A. The PWR
As teams were announced for Round 3 of the World Cup, some of the nine surviving PWR clubs were happy to highlight their players who were represented.
For example, Sale Sharks could boast 4 Scots, 4 Welsh, 3 Americans and 3 English; Loughborough Lightning (alias Northampton Saints) offered 4 Scots, 4 Americans and 3 English.
There we have a hint of the imbalance between welcome guests and home-grown talent. The PWR board may be in daily contact with its members about its reactions; it isn’t with the general public.
We can now add Kiwis to the list of NEQPs, a tribute to English rugby and its coaches, but will new limits be set? Parallels with England’s Premiership football league show what can happen.
B. The abuse continues
The WRU and team-mates were quick to support Georgia Evans from the latest blast of anonymous social media abuse. The only gleam of light is that it is less all-pervasive than it might have been. Cold comfort.
The owners of these channels of public opinion show few signs of guilt or an ability to take action.
There are two other broad types of criticism: a. ‘it’s boring’ (no details, no explanation); and b. ‘they couldn’t beat a boys’ U14/U13/U12 team’ (delete as applicable).
What sort of aid can we offer these perpetrators?
C. The HSBC SVNS Series
It seemed distinctly odd finding Alan Gilpin, Chief Exec of World Rugby, issuing a statement about the coming SVNS Series slap bang in the middle of a World Cup.
The changes announced last May had several causes: to save money, to even out the chances of more and less affluent nations, increase fan involvement, and raise the tournament’s standing in the run-up to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Financial stability takes a high priority. WR is lobbing in $1m each year. It’s unclear how much of that sum is covered by its long-term sponsor HSBC.
Some critics claim attendance figures are dropping, though that is contested.
Doubts have been raised about the split into three divisions (a move similar to WXV); some claim it will harm less affluent nations, not help them.
The eight venues are another rum collection, put together, not for their devotion to the game but for their money-making potential. Two are not yet even settled: somewhere in Australia and somewhere in USA.
Of the others we have of course Dubai, hot favourites to win the next RWC, Cape Town, Vancouver and Singapore.
The eight nations in the elite group show a more sensible spread, including Fiji and Japan alongside big hitters, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
World Rugby has to sit on two stools at once – very uncomfortable.
