‘The death of Tier 2 rugby’

A new biennial international rugby tournament featuring the Six Nations and SANZAAR teams is set to start in 2026, the two organisations have confirmed in a joint statement.

The tournament will be ring-fenced until 2030, with World Rugby setting up a Tier 2 competition for promotion and relegation.

Six Nations Rugby and SANZAAR will own and operate the elite tournament, which will include the 10 teams from the Six Nations and Rugby Championship plus an additional two invitational sides – likely to be Japan and Fiji.

The announcement of the new ‘World League’ – which will take place in alternating years between British and Irish Lions tours and the Rugby World Cup – has been met with mixed reviews, but were mostly negative.

Rugby’s Super League

Popular YouTube rugby analyst, Robbie Owen, aka Squidge Rugby, was quick to criticise the competition due to its negative impact on Tier 2 teams.

He tweeted: “This decision will mean Georgia, who just beat Italy & Wales, won’t play a T1 team for at least four years. It would make sure a team coming out of nowhere like Chile never happens again. This is rugby cashing in the growing nations to make a few quid for the old dogs.

“The way World Rugby’s governance works right now, if 8 of the 6N/TRC countries backed a motion to carpetbomb every rugby pitch in every T2 nation, there’s nothing the other 97 member unions could do to stop it. The entire system is set up to protect interests, not grow the game.”

Several fans echoed Robbie’s concerns.

One reply to his tweet read, “They want to keep the game for a selected few rather than growing the sport. It’s honestly embarrassing.”

Another added: “This is essentially the super league but for rugby. Solidify the revenue and competitiveness for the top teams whilst giving the rest a token place to participate.”

The Death of Tier 2 Rugby

South African journalist Brenden Nel dubbed it a ‘death blow’ for rising nations.

He wrote: “The proposed World League concept launched by Sanzaar and 6N today underlines the commercialisation of test rugby by investment groups. It deals a death blow to those rising nations like Georgia and Chile, who will only face Tier 1 nations from 2030.”

The proposed World League concept launched by Sanzaar and 6N today underlines the commercialisation of test rugby by investment groups.
It deals a death blow to those rising nations like Georgia and Chile, who will only face Tier 1 nations from 2030.

— Brenden Nel (@Brendennel) July 1, 2023

That was a common viewpoint with Tight Five Rugby simply tweeting ‘The death of Tier 2 rugby.’ with a screenshot of the statement.

2026 – The death of Tier 2 rugby. pic.twitter.com/eFpgKj592O

— Tight Five Rugby (@TightFive_Rugby) July 1, 2023

Connacht fan page, The 2nd Row, believes that this is an indication that World Rugby have lost control of the game.

“Wow well proof that @WorldRugby have lost control of the game. With the 6 nations…