Former All Blacks star Stephen Donald has issued a stark warning about the potentially disastrous effects of scrapping the Rugby Championship for a touring model, especially now that Australia and Argentina have risen to match the prowess of the Springboks and All Blacks. This sentiment surfaces as the Springboks clinched another title in what was the fiercest competition yet, edging Argentina in a thriller at Twickenham's Allianz Stadium.
The looming discontinuation of the Rugby Championship could see 2026 devoid of the annual clash, with plans for the All Blacks to tour South Africa instead. The restructuring talks have stirred concerns among rugby legends, with the likes of Mils Muliaina and Aaron Cruden expressing both excitement and apprehension about the future dynamics of Southern Hemisphere rugby.
"I'm looking forward to the tours, it's going to bring something different; it's enlightening,"
Muliaina commented during a Sky Sports' Breakdown session.
"But for a lot of people, we didn't expect this Rugby Championship to be so competitive. The Argentines have also come to the party as well."
The competitive nature of this year's championship has been a beacon of progress for Argentina and Australia, hinting at a resurgence that positions them shoulder to shoulder with rugby's traditional giants. Donald emphasized the significance of maintaining the annual competition, noting the tragic irony should it be discarded just as parity is achieved. "It’d be an absolute tragedy now after finally getting those two teams back to the Boks and All Blacks level to do away with it," he affirmed.
Cruden echoed these concerns, pondering the feasibility of blending tours with the Rugby Championship within a single calendar. "I am really excited by the tour, but if you think about it, it needs to be top quality, and obviously in South Africa next year, we know it is going to be," he said, questioning whether other tours could match the intensity of the Rugby Championship.
As discussions continue, the potential shift of the Rugby Championship to align with the Six Nations has been floated by Rugby Australia, with New Zealand's approval pending a minor adjustment to the Six Nations schedule. This proposal aims to preserve the competitive spirit witnessed this year, suggesting a strategic yet complex path forward for Southern Hemisphere rugby.
2,193 posts
Former All Blacks star Stephen Donald has issued a stark warning about the potentially disastrous effects of scrapping the Rugby Championship for a touring model, especially now that Australia and Argentina have risen to match the prowess of the Springboks and All Blacks. This sentiment surfaces as the Springboks clinched another title in what was the fiercest competition yet, edging Argentina in a thriller at Twickenham's Allianz Stadium.
The looming discontinuation of the Rugby Championship could see 2026 devoid of the annual clash, with plans for the All Blacks to tour South Africa instead. The restructuring talks have stirred concerns among rugby legends, with the likes of Mils Muliaina and Aaron Cruden expressing both excitement and apprehension about the future dynamics of Southern Hemisphere rugby.
"I'm looking forward to the tours, it's going to bring something different; it's enlightening,"
Muliaina commented during a Sky Sports' Breakdown session."But for a lot of people, we didn't expect this Rugby Championship to be so competitive. The Argentines have also come to the party as well."
The competitive nature of this year's championship has been a beacon of progress for Argentina and Australia, hinting at a resurgence that positions them shoulder to shoulder with rugby's traditional giants. Donald emphasized the significance of maintaining the annual competition, noting the tragic irony should it be discarded just as parity is achieved. "It’d be an absolute tragedy now after finally getting those two teams back to the Boks and All Blacks level to do away with it," he affirmed.
Cruden echoed these concerns, pondering the feasibility of blending tours with the Rugby Championship within a single calendar. "I am really excited by the tour, but if you think about it, it needs to be top quality, and obviously in South Africa next year, we know it is going to be," he said, questioning whether other tours could match the intensity of the Rugby Championship.
As discussions continue, the potential shift of the Rugby Championship to align with the Six Nations has been floated by Rugby Australia, with New Zealand's approval pending a minor adjustment to the Six Nations schedule. This proposal aims to preserve the competitive spirit witnessed this year, suggesting a strategic yet complex path forward for Southern Hemisphere rugby.