Andy Gair’s Post

PRESS STATEMENT 📰 The inaugural Sussex 7s Series is set to take place in 2024, which will see a first-of-its kind rugby 7s competition taking place across the county, showcasing the best emerging rugby 7s talent in a “festival” format. The Series (which is being hosted by rugby clubs across Sussex) is entirely new in English rugby, as the only dedicated 7s competition that is ringfence for players eligible to play for the county and who want to play at an elite-level. Gary Henderson, Chairman of Sussex RFU, says “This is a wonderful opportunity for us to expand our offering to Sussex's rugby players. Our aim is to widen our appeal. Sevens is a fast game and is ideally suited to the younger player. This series provides a further vehicle to transition players into the senior game.” The Sussex 7s Series does not operate on a ‘pay-to-play’ model (this is where players or teams have to pay to enter a 7s competition, a standard practice across most 7s events in the UK), which is removing a barrier to entry for players from a low-income household that can’t afford to play regularly and get spotted by scouts at talent-ID competitions. The Series will see 16 rugby 7s teams (8 male and 8 female) battle it out during several legs of intense competition accumulating points to be crowned the best team in Sussex, with clubs across Sussex preparing to welcome the series. The series also breaks new ground by ensuring equal opportunities for female players, in anticipation of the Women’s Rugby World Cup visiting Brighton & Hove in 2025, as the series supports the explosive growth of women’s sport in England. Geraldine Brown, Sussex RFU's Director of Women & Girls' Rugby, says "With the increased profile of women's sport and rugby in particular it is great that we will have a local opportunity to showcase 7s rugby as one of the many ways women and girls can get involved in rugby. With the Women’s Rugby World Cup coming to Brighton & Hove in 2025 it is an exciting time to be involved in the sport.” For the full statement go to www.Sussex7sSeries.com

WALES RUGBY TO DIE A SLOW DEATH BY 2030. Rugby union in Wales to die a slow death by 2030, if the whole rugby set up is not changed by season 2026-2027. The Welsh rugby 324 grass roots clubs, and the 4 regional clubs, will die a slow death over the next 6 years. it has already started with 1-3 clubs folding every year, and a lot of clubs being unable to field 15 players, like the great Pontypool Utd club, who were the best of the best in the 1970s to 2,000, but this season and last, they failed to put out a team on a number of occasions. Wales will only have 2 regional clubs with the top 60 players in Wales between them, by 2025-2026 season Wales will see 15 grass roots clubs close every year for the next 4 years, and then 30 clubs for the last 2 years of the 6 year slow death of Welsh rugby = 120 clubs gone by 2030 The national team could be a force again if the WRU, get rid of the the academies, get rid off college rugby, get rid of the caps minimum, make the premier league men's and women's clubs run a 2nd string. get rid of all rugby teams that are under 11 years of age, boys and girls. Make the coaches of the game at all levels below the premier game, attend WRU coaching classes, coached by any countries ex international players, or Ron Shottle as director of rugby. The rugby clubs in the championship (12) teams and the premier clubs (16 teams) make the premiership have a squad of (28), and all clubs below premiership have a squad of (22) so all players will have some game play time every week. The WRU do not have to find any moneys for the above movement, as the WRU officers will resign en block, and let a International multi billion Welsh company take over, who will finance the whole of Welsh rugby to the sum of £300,000,000 per year for the next 100 years. Would love to have the comments from the businesses of Welsh CEOs / chairs/Managing directors, anywhere in the world. Dioch

I think the time is right to retire Super Rugby and merge the teams back into the NPC. Reduce the NPC to 12 teams and begin the competition in March and finish in September like most Winter sports in the Southern Hemisphere.  This means club rugby can run concurrently with the NPC and there need only be a single round robin NPC competition which leaves enough space weekends for players to play for their clubs and also to hold a Championship tournament with Japanese and Australian teams in May-June. I have also worked out the most suitable global season format, it includes: - 15 weeks test windows.  This includes 4 x Regional 2 week windows in Feb, March, April and October. Nations will play only 3 of these windows for their regional competition (eg. Six nations, TRC); Two global windows consisting of the 3-week July window and the 4-week November window).  Most nations should play only 13 weeks of the 15 and International players should be limited to 12 international matches per year. - 37 weeks club windows (including week Global Club window in August following the Mid year tours).  Club windows comprise national club competitions and/or regional club championship competitions - Mandated player rest - All players should have a minimum of 8 weeks continuous offseason rest and a total minimum of 16 weeks of rest per year and 40 weeks per 2 year period.  This essentially means one high game year must be followed by additional time off. - SVNS World Series tournaments all held within International windows.  There can be the current 5 x two-week 'stops' = 10 destinations in the Series which begins in October and finishes in April. The great advantages of the above Global Season format are as follows: 1. Partially aligns the Six Nations and TRC to align windows 2. Clubs have clear windows and clear player release windows so more top players will play professional club rugby matches and more top club playera will turn out for their nations 3. Top SVNS players can now join top club teams and turn out for them while still participating in the SVNS tournaments.  This means again more top global players in SVNS tournaments and more top SVNS players gaining employment with clubs. 4. The major SH and NH egional and national club tournaments will culminate in June - except the USA.  This allows for a Global club window for two weeks at the beginning of August.  Possibly every 2 years or even every year. New Zealand Rugby World Rugby Six Nations Rugby Super Rugby/TRC Asia Rugby Rugby Europe USA Rugby Japan Rugby Football Union https://lnkd.in/dhayAHG3

The new Men's Professional Game Partnership (MPGP), announced today, is a watershed moment for English rugby, for a number of reasons. 🌹 Most notably: 1) It is the first time that the Rugby Players Association has been a signatory to the agreement governing the professional game, recognising the essential role that players have in shaping the future of the sport. 🏉 2) It includes a landmark joint marketing agreement, which should facilitate a more coherent commercial strategy for selling the professional game, which is desperately needed. 📈 There are many other positive talking points in the new deal but, as ever, the proof will be in the pudding. 🍰 However, it is not clear that this amounts to the full "relaunch" of the Premiership that was promised following the demise of Worcester and Wasps. In particular, significant questions remain over promotion/relegation and the status of the Championship. 🤔 The Minimum Standards Criteria have been adapted to make it easier for Championship clubs to get promoted (if they can win a two-legged play-off) but, as the full RFU press release states, "there is currently a major gap in competitiveness and playing budgets between the Gallagher Premiership and Championship clubs and the financial requirements needed to compete in the Premiership". Yet, strikingly, the new MPGP does not appear to tackle this fundamental problem (which results from the lack of funding and commercialisation of the second tier) and the Championship clubs are excluded from the MPGP. It is disappointing that the opportunity has been missed to remedy this chronic issue, which will, no doubt, continue to plague the competition. What do you make of today's announcement? Let me know in the comments. ⬇ #sportslaw #sportbiz #EnglandRugby #rugby #sport https://lnkd.in/gz-Tc_fU

The Championship Clubs Committee met today to hear an update from their Executive on progress made in discussions about the future of Tier 2 of English rugby. While there was at one point in the recent history of this crucial process a deadline of March 31st for the selection of clubs for a second tier, that deadline was scrapped some time ago and there are currently a series of important and intensive discussions going on around the league, which will be launched for the 2025/26 season. Those discussions between the CCC, the RFU and, where relevant, Premiership Rugby Ltd, cover all the basic points needed to establish a new Tier 2 for the good of the English game and for the security and planning necessary to the current Championship clubs. There is no deadline for these discussions, although clearly it is important that agreement is reached as quickly as possible so that planning for both the new Tier 2 league and for the 2024/25 season can begin. Solid progress has been made on the various issues being discussed. The parties involved believe that an agreement is within reach, although some very important topics still need to be brought to a satisfactory conclusion for all the parties. These are vital discussions and are taking place in an intensive, progressive and co-operative atmosphere. No doubt, when outstanding issues are resolved, a public statement will be made, but in the meantime, please be assured that the future of Championship clubs and the interests of those who aspire to join the second tier of our game are being given the priority they deserve by all of us involved.

Let’s Get Behind School Rugby Throughout the course of this week, the National Schools’ Rugby Sevens will see over 14,000 players in over 1000 teams compete in a variety of competitions. Some are here to win it, some aiming to progress further than before and others participating for the experience. Whilst Rugby is addressing legitimate challenges, it is also a game that continues to capture the imagination of large numbers. The era of compulsory rugby is long gone, and these children are participating because they love the game. It never was a sport for everyone, but continues to be one which enriches the lives of many, providing lifelong memories and friendships. There is something captivatingly attractive about Rugby, though its leaders are curiously reluctant to articulate its benefits more widely. Those of us who have been positively impacted by the game have to be more vocal in our support: the modern game is a niche experience, with unique benefits and challenges. But, those who love it, love it as much as they ever did. Let’s get behind school Rugby - and lifelong friendships

End of Super Rugby Part 2 Rob Leota is an outstanding young man and is ideally suited to lead the Rebels through this difficult, but inevitably, final year. When Rob played for Easts, he broke his leg but schlepped up to Rat Park - cast and all - to support his team mates - legend. How can the Rebels end up owing over $20m as is being reported ? Even if it's exaggerated - the debt to the tax office appears to have been accruing for many years. Any Rugby Club in Club land would have been shut down years ago and there wouldn't have been a returned phone call from RA, let alone a bail out. I feel dreadfully sorry for the staff at the Rebels, their future is looking decidedly uncertain despite working incredibly hard and, being honest, if they are not looking for alternative employment - they should be. If $20m gets drained out of an already shallow Australian Rugby pool all Rugby fans have the right to be infuriated - it shows the Rebels were in far worse shape than they let on. This situation highlights just how unsustainable Super Rugby is in this country and the sooner we stop wringing our hands and start making new plans the better. It appears the Brumbies are facing a challenge as are the Western Force - that leaves two Super Rugby clubs, be a rather short season under those circumstances. In 2003, the Wallabies were number 2 in the world, knocking on the door of Number 1, we are now ranked 9th (Fiji ranked 10th) and have won just 3 of the last 20 matches against New Zealand as I am sure you know. When I suggest an abandonment of Super Rugby, the argument against this notion is our players need a higher level of Rugby to develop, Clubs can't provide that level of professionalism and we need Super Rugby in order to remain competitive - clearly that hasn't worked. The finances of the Super Rugby Clubs don't make for pretty reading, one reason being, fans no longer come to the games. According to Austadiums, in 2013 Super Rugby attendance averaged 17 670 in 2023 it averaged 11 596 with fewer games being played. The answer is not to keep propping up failing enterprises, the answer is to change what we are doing otherwise more of our scarce dollars will find their way in to black holes created by administrators who are too scared to tell the horrible truth about how tough things really are. My view wont really matter, Super Rugby is folding in on itself, sadly for all those involved. We can keep temporarily patching things up, mourn for what could have been but these are all wastes of time (and as the Rebels have shown - money) Start with a fresh sheet of ideas, include on that sheet an 18 Club national competition and give fans something they really care about, something that's personal. Also put on the sheet City V Country, State of Origin, Billy Idol as half time entertainment, what ever you want - but at this stage - there are no bad ideas apart from repeating our current actions & hoping for a different outcome.

International Rugby League will assist Ireland, Italy, Lebanon and Scotland to grow the game domestically after the four nations, along with Russia, were reclassified as Affiliate Members.  A meeting of full members on March 14 agreed on significant changes to the classification of nations whose governing bodies have been non-compliant with the terms of the IRL membership policy for up to five years.  Russia’s Association of Rugby League Clubs was already suspended from international competition.  Federazione Italiana Rugby League, the Lebanese Rugby League Federation, Rugby League Ireland and Scotland Rugby League will each receive a parachute payment to invest in areas of non-compliance.  They can re-apply for full membership when their Board deems them ready to do so.  IRL Secretary -General Danny Kazandjian said other nations had applied to become full members.  “IRL currently has five good quality full member applications under evaluation and there are likely to be at least another two later this year,” he said.  “We work continuously with member federations to improve their operations and governance, and we are seeing standards increase on and off the field. Over a long arc, ensuring compliance with IRL’s regulatory framework will result in a bigger, more durable, more prolific sport.  “In many of our members, the most reliable sign of growth is producing more registered rugby league players who play in organised 13-a-side championships, usually for rugby league clubs that are themselves members of their own national federation. Our focus is most certainly on that critical local growth.” Rugby League Ireland Chairman Jim Reynolds said his organisation was already taking steps aimed at quickly regaining full membership. "RLI thanks both IRL and ERL for recognising the significant transformation we have achieved since COVID in addressing the non-compliance issues that have been raised with RLI for the last ten years," he said. "We have worked hard to exceed the standards in good governance and with our youth groups becoming one year older, they will now also qualify to allow us regain full IRL membership status this year end." In other changes, Asociacion Espanola de RL (Spain) was reclassified as an Observer Member.  The national federations for Belgium, Denmark, Ethiopia, Latvia, Saudi Arabia and Trinidad & Tobago are all expelled from the company following several years of inactivity. The reclassification of nations follows the introduction of the current member policy in 2019, which initially allowed for a two-year transition period to allow members time to adjust to the new policy.  Covid then delayed compliance deadlines and every nation was afforded a Covid-free two-year corrective action period following non-compliant status. IRL members are audited each year against the membership policy, with non-compliant full member nations continuing to receive grant funding to invest in areas of deficiency. Full story: https://bit.ly/4a8I4KU

Update: The RFU has approved the structure of the Premiership and Championship for next season. Promotion/relegation will be subject to a two-legged play-off between the Premiership’s lowest team and the Championship winners, provided that the Championship winners meet the necessary Minimum Standards Criteria. In other words, the status quo will remain. Many had hoped for a revitalised, streamlined second tier to stimulate commercial growth, but this has not materialised, seemingly after opposition from some Championship clubs. This therefore feels a missed opportunity. But it was clear that the reported lack of engagement from the RFU and Premiership with the Championship clubs was always going to make meaningful change difficult. So where does this leave English club rugby? It is not clear that this news will stimulate significant investment into the Championship, but it does at least guarantee the existence of the current Championship clubs and maintains a route through to the top tier. But, as the past decade has shown, this matters little if there is no meaningful investment into the second tier and if there remain significant barriers to entry to the Premiership (a relegation play-off system is already in place but the Championship winners haven’t met the Minimum Standards Criteria, so no play-off has taken place). The same old questions over the levels of funding for the Championship, the Minimum Standards Criteria and the sustainability of a second professional league will therefore continue to plague the game, as they have done for the past decade. Talks are ongoing about the make-up of the Championship, and there will be hope for an improved funding package. But the incongruence of the overlap between the professional and amateur games will seemingly remain, leaving us all to ponder whether a commercially viable professional second division will ever evolve… Let me know what you think. Am I missing something? #sportslaw #rugby #englandrugby https://lnkd.in/ecfAhybP

It's too much of a coincidence that on the day World Rugby elects Brett Robinson as its new Chair, the news of a #LIV style breakaway Rugby league, backed by US and Middle East funding, is leaked to the press, it's a clear challenge to the #establishment. Let's see how this plays out, but it comes down to the fact that compared to other high-profile sports, elite Rugby players play too much, and get battered week-in week-out for quite frankly relatively little #remuneration. Owen Farrell is reportedly the highest-paid player in the world, earning $1.2m. It doesn't take a PhD in mathematics to do the sums and work out that for a pittance of what it took to fund LIV Golf, you could buy control of most of the top Rugby players and fund your own global rugby competition. No matter how much tinkering is done with rules, governance, player vs country contracts, concussion protocols, etc. this lack of money paid to its stars, leaves the sport more vulnerable than ever for a group like this to come along with a big cheque and mix things up a bit. Those of us with long memories have been down the Rugby breakaway road before and it failed. It is probable that the establishment has game played this scenario and will have plenty of power-plays of their own to bring to the table to prevent what some feel is inevitable. Therefore, the nuanced cause-and-effect, #fragmentation, and #revolution this disruption may cause is up for debate. Ultimately the sentiment of the players will be key. The disrupting protagonists have played their first card, so it's game on! In the meantime, I'm looking forward to a nice day out in #Cardiff on Sunday, hoping against hope, that my beloved #Wales can somehow avoid a record 11th consecutive international defeat against the Aussies! 🙏 #Rugby #WorldRugby #Disruption WRU - Welsh Rugby Union England Rugby Scottish Rugby South African Rugby Union (SA Rugby) Rugby Australia New Zealand Rugby FFR - Fédération Française de Rugby Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) RugbyDAO World Rugby AYNE - are you not entertained? podcast Public Investment Fund (PIF) CVC