Designing a International Rugby League tournament using the World Cup Group B/C format

[England87]

Theres a lot of debate on the Group 2/3 format in next years World Cup, however I think it could be perfect for designing a Rugby League 6 Nations / International Champions League tournament as it includes more nations yet the standard of footy would remain relatively high. Every point would theoratically matter with 2/6 side making the final.

This could run every two years with the tournament alternating hemispheres. Ive mocked up a tournament and fixture list based on current world rankings that I then randomly resulted to create 2 equal groups.

Every team plays 3 fixtures plus a Final for the highest ranked teams across both pools.

When the tournament is in the Northern Hemisphere, France would automatically qualify as the 6th seed.

Eg:

Group 1

1. AUSTRALIA
4. SAMOA
5. TONGA

Group 2

2. NEW ZEALAND
3. ENGLAND
6. PAPUA NEW GUINEA


So the games would be:

Week 1
AUSTRALIA v NEW ZEALAND - Brisbane
SAMOA v ENGLAND - Western Sydney
TONGA v PAPUA NEW GUINEA - Port Moresby

Week 2
AUSTRALIA v ENGLAND - Newcastle
SAMOA v PAPUA NEW GUINEA - Port Moresby
TONGA v NEW ZEALAND - Auckland

Week 3

AUSTRALIA v PAPUA NEW GUINEA - Townsville
SAMOA v NEW ZEALAND - Christchurch
TONGA v ENGLAND - Perth

Week 4
FINAL - Sydney

 

[Last Week]

That would just be an incomplete 6 Nations.

 

[England87]

Thats the point bro

 

[Taking The Two]

Two groups of five, everyone plays 4, 1st in Group A plays 2nd in Group B and 1st in Group B plays 2nd in Group A in the semis. It’s genuinely that simple.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

8 Nation World Series every year - simple, no P&R. We have 8 nations that can field pro squads. Aus, NZ, Eng, Samoa, Tonga, PNG, France & Fiji. Develop that.

Everyone else can play annual regional tournaments and apply for entry when they meet requirements like participation, finances, people player pool etc.

 

[Taking The Two]

A World Cup, even if it was called a World Series, every year would be boring.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

A World Cup, even if it was called a World Series, every year would be boring.

As if you wouldn't watch it. The 3/4 nations was never boring. The Pacific Championships aren't boring - lol

 

[Taking The Two]

As if you wouldn't watch it. The 3/4 nations was never boring. The Pacific Championships aren't boring - lol

Neither of those events are World Cup’s. World Cup’s are special because of their uniqueness and their rarity in a sporting calendar, having one every year just takes that away from it and from a fan perspective, gets boring. You need to have Ashes series’, Tours and Pacific Championships to break up the calendar.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Neither of those events are World Cup’s. World Cup’s are special because of their uniqueness and their rarity in a sporting calendar, having one every year just takes that away from it and from a fan perspective, gets boring. You need to have Ashes series’, Tours and Pacific Championships to break up the calendar.

Pacific Championships are annual events, do you tune out because it's boring? Tennis, Motorsports & Golf crown a champion every year, their fans don't seem to find it boring.

We have 8 nations, one tournament a year that allows them all to play quality tests annually is the only way it's going to work. Two pools of four and a Final, pools are different every year, you would absolutely watch and enjoy it.

There's no reason to do a four year WC cycle other than The Olympics, then Soccer did it. We need solutions that work for our game.

 

[Taking The Two]

Pacific Championships are annual events, do you tune out because it's boring? Tennis, Motorsports & Golf crown a champion every year, their fans don't seem to find it boring.

We have 8 nations, one tournament a year that allows them all to play quality tests annually is the only way it's going to work. Two pools of four and a Final, pools are different every year, you would absolutely watch and enjoy it.

There's no reason to do a four year WC cycle other than The Olympics, then Soccer did it. We need solutions that work for our game.

Pacific Championships aren’t World Cup’s. That’s the point. They’re not the global event. They’re not the showcase of the sport. They’re part of a calendar, as are annual club rugby league competitions.

A World Cup every single year and the loss of tours, Ashes series and the Pacific Championships would be boring. You’d also lose some valuable and important matches and tournaments in the process, whilst devaluing the World Cup by hosting it every single year.

We can review the cycle and how many years between competitions but annually would be the worst choice, by far.

 

[marlins2.0]

8 team World Cup every second year, two pools of 4, meaning three games and then a final between top teams from each.

Run at the same time as a Nations Cup with the next 4-6 teams, and a promotion and relegation between the two.

In non tournament years have your tours and test series.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

8 team World Cup every second year, two pools of 4, meaning three games and then a final between top teams from each.

Run at the same time as a Nations Cup with the next 4-6 teams, and a promotion and relegation between the two.

In non tournament years have your tours and test series.

I could live with that

 

[marlins2.0]

Could also do the following:

Year One:
Tours and Traditional Test Series

Year Two:
IRL Championship (Top 4 ranked)
IRL Trophy (Next four ranked)

Year Three:
Tours and Traditional Test Series

Year Four:
World Cup (Top 8 ranked)
Nations Championship (Next 4-6 ranked)

Mid year test or two should the powers that be agree to a window.

 

[Taking The Two]

Do we need multiple groups in the World Cup? With the Champions League being on this week, it got me thinking whether we could do something in a one group style set up, where everyone plays 3 or 4 games at group level, then 1-2 automatically qualify for a semi-final, teams who finish 3, 4, 5, 6 play a quarter final of 3 v 6 and 4 v 5 and then face off against 1 and 2 in the ranks. Have the fixtures based off of where they are in the world rankings and go from there.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Two groups of 4 and a final. We have 8 pro teams. It's not rocket science.

Run an amateur/emerging nations WC alongside it if costs permit