If you're itching to throw down in the Fantasy Rugby Championship, prepare to pony up big bucks for hotshots like Cheslin Kolbe. The virtual sticker price to snag this speedster for your dream XV? A cool $10-million. The game, which kicked off this Wednesday, arms fans with a $100-million budget to cherry-pick their squad from the cream of the southern hemisphere crop, including Springboks, All Blacks, Wallabies, and Los Pumas.
This isn't your grandad's bingo night; players score fantasy points for every on-field move—tries, tackles, you name it. And while you're strategizing your way to the US$5,000 grand prize, you can also duke it out in custom leagues for some serious gloating rights against pals across the globe.
It’s a star-studded affair with Cheslin Kolbe and Will Jordan, both tagged at a hefty $10-million each, leading the charge as the priciest players. Don’t overlook the muscle up front either; forwards Ardie Savea and Siya Kolisi aren’t far behind, each valued at $8-million.
Down Under, Tom Wright tops Australia’s bank-breaking list at $8.5-million, while Argentina’s Tomás Albornoz is their top-ticket item at $8-million. The rules? Keep your team diverse—no more than six players from a single Rugby Championship nation.
The season’s spice comes with strategic boosters like 'Triple captain' and 'Co-captains', magnifying your captain’s points, or the 'Limitless' booster, throwing budget worries out the window for a round.
"It’s a short competition, you will need to take some risks, but don’t be too reckless, consistency will win out,"
says Callum Brown, last season’s Fantasy top dog. He suggests keeping your captain picks steady and safe to avoid game-to-game gambles.As you dive into this fantasy fray, remember the wise words of Brown,
"Pick consistent players as captain. Having a solid and safe captain score each round will be better than taking a huge risk each round! Enjoy watching the games outside of your favourite team!"
And a little pro tip for rookies and seasoned players alike: Knowing the nuts and bolts of the scoring system is crucial—because what dazzles in real life doesn’t always rack up the fantasy points. So, gear up, strategize, and may the best fantasy manager win!