A Rugby Club World Cup is on the horizon for 2028, but key players like New Zealand Rugby remain cautious, highlighting significant details still needing resolution.
The ambitious project to create a Rugby Club World Cup, pitting the strongest club teams from the Northern and Southern Hemispheres against each other, continues its development. However, according to statements from the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU), the path to final implementation is still lined with unresolved questions and requires substantial refinement.
NZRU officials have indicated they are not rushing to accept the terms currently put forward, particularly by European clubs. The initiative is very much still in a discussion phase, with particular emphasis needed on clarifying the organizational structure and, perhaps more critically, the commercial arrangements that would underpin such a global tournament.
The proposed timeline targets the end of the 2027-28 season for the inaugural edition. The envisioned format includes a 16-team lineup, designed to bring together top talent from across the major rugby regions. The current proposal allocates seven slots to teams from Super Rugby, one spot to a Japanese club, and eight places for Northern Hemisphere sides. Notably, these Northern Hemisphere representatives would include the South African franchises currently competing in the United Rugby Championship (URC). Qualification for the Northern clubs is expected to be based on their performance in the European Champions Cup, serving as a direct pathway to the global stage.
While the concept garners enthusiasm, the practicalities are complex. Reports earlier suggested that the seven rugby unions within European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) had unanimously approved the *principle* of holding the first Club World Cup in 2028. This represents a significant step forward in terms of commitment from a key region. Yet, the nuanced position from New Zealand Rugby underscores that while the vision is becoming clearer, the final, binding agreements necessary to turn this project into reality are far from finalized.
Bringing together disparate leagues with different calendars, commercial models, and governance structures is no small feat. The `organizational and commercial sides` requiring refinement likely encompass crucial aspects such as revenue sharing among competing clubs and unions, integrating the tournament into an already congested global rugby calendar, ensuring player welfare amidst increased fixtures, and standardizing regulations across participants from various competitions. It`s the kind of complex negotiation that makes multilateral trade deals look straightforward, requiring patience, compromise, and a significant amount of detailed planning.
In essence, while the framework for a Rugby Club World Cup in 2028 is starting to gain definition, it remains a project requiring considerable work. The backing from some key stakeholders like the EPCR unions is positive, but the cautious stance from influential bodies such as New Zealand Rugby highlights that until the operational and financial blueprints are fully detailed and agreed upon, this potentially spectacular addition to the rugby landscape remains on the drawing board, albeit a very promising one.
