WRC announce new aligned calendar

[Volun-selected]

Just read this:
Historic rugby calendar reform to supercharge reach and competitiveness

And great to see that they now have a global calendar for women’s rugby with dedicated release windows.

It also seems (at least for now) the 6N stays intact:

Launch of a bi-annual new international competition from 2026, comprising a top division of 12 teams (Six Nations unions, SANZAAR unions and two further unions to be selected via a process run by SANZAAR), and a second division run by World Rugby of 12 teams with promotion and relegation commencing from 2030. Played in the July and November international release windows...

(On a personal note, should be fun to see more matches in the USA in the "expanded Pacific Nations Cup" with Fiji, Japan, Samoa, and Tonga. They really need to raise the profile over the next few years.)

General question: Given the recent comments about the one-sided RWC games, do people see this making a difference to close the Tier 1 / Tier 2 gap?

 

[crossref]

Just read this:
Historic rugby calendar reform to supercharge reach and competitiveness

And great to see that they now have a global calendar for women’s rugby with dedicated release windows.

It also seems (at least for now) the 6N stays intact:


(On a personal note, should be fun to see more matches in the USA in the "expanded Pacific Nations Cup" with Fiji, Japan, Samoa, and Tonga. They really need to raise the profile over the next few years.)

General question: Given the recent comments about the one-sided RWC games, do people see this making a difference to close the Tier 1 / Tier 2 gap?

Well, only two Tier 2 teams have been allowed into the new tournament
So no

 

[Marc Wakeham]

I can't see it helping from the detail so far.