Forward Thinking (Vol. 1, Iss. 4): Rethinking June Tours

Played every November, excluding Rugby World Cup years, the November or autumn internationals see European nations hosting incoming test teams from across the globe. It is a time when not only southern nations such as Argentina, Australia, Fiji, Namibia, New Zealand, Samoa, South Africa and Tonga tour the north but also when Canada, Japan and the USA do so.

The reverse tour occurs in the month of June but the structure does not deliver the same experience. This could, however, change with June having a more global feeling to it by having more teams playing matches in more locations.

Following the record-breaking sell-out test match in Chicago World Rugby CEO Brett Gosper called for the United States to play host to a Six Nations test match. Such a possibility does not sit well with the Welsh Rugby Union, though, with former CEO Gareth Davies having said that relocating a fixture across the North Atlantic would cause a revolt.

In addition to local fans missing out on seeing their team play at home the ability of all Six Nations teams to sell out home matches, and do so by charging high prices, implies that Gosper’s suggestion is simply not required. Moving a fixture would be done primarily because there is more on offer from doing so than by playing at home.

Teams could charge appearance fees or split the gate takings and also make a healthy taking from television rights and sponsorship but, ultimately the North American market is better suited to having the USA Eagles and Canada both playing an increasing number of reputable test matches at home than is the case at present.

In addition to Chicago’s Soldier Field BMO Field in Toronto has attracted strong crowds for home fixtures against all of Ireland, Italy, the Maori All Blacks, Scotland and the USA. Houston and Philadelphia have both hosted the same fixtures and similarly done so with strong attendances. The expanding market is therefore suited to an increased number of incoming tests and it would, arguably, be a win-win for Six Nations teams.

Last November England and Wales both hosted four tests at their respective home stadiums, France, Ireland, Italy, Romania and Scotland played three home tests while Georgia played two at home and one away against Ireland. The home tests each November are accompanied by home matches in the Six Nations and European Nations Cup tournaments.

The structure could be altered to find a balance in June to more closely resemble November’s orientation. The one unavoidable difference is that Europe is one continent and is relatively small. In June Six Nations teams play in Japan, Oceania, Argentina, North America and South Africa. It is because of this geographical spread that series rather than one-off fixtures have long been the norm. New Zealand, for instance, hosts three test tours compared to Wales in November hosting four different teams.

The downside has been a tendency for teams to lose the opening two matches thus rendering the third a dead rubber. Traditional tours need not end but could be improved upon. Scotland’s June 2014 tour offers insight into how this could, and arguably, ought to be done. The North-Western Europeans played tests in Houston, Toronto, Córdoba and Port Elizabeth thereby playing a November-oriented tour but one taking in three continents.

Distances dictate that European teams playing in Australia or New Zealand must take two planes. Contrary to playing in Argentina, Japan, South Africa or North America there are no direct flights from Europe to Oceania. This reality offers a viable solution to reorganize the June fixtures with two teams playing in North America and one in Japan en route to Oceania. The same may also apply to teams returning.

A four test tour is therefore workable and ought to be looked at. It would benefit the Tier Two nations extremely while also providing equilibrium to the visitors thus justifying a fourth test match. The June 2016 international window has Ireland confirmed as playing in South Africa, France in Argentina, England in Australia and Wales in New Zealand. Unconfirmed reports also indicate that Scotland will play in Japan and Italy in North America.

As shown in the following table touring sides from Europe would all be able to play four matches and do so by preventing long-distance travel from being a deterrent. England could play in Canada after doing so in Australia while Wales could play both Samoa and Fiji in addition to having two tests in New Zealand.

An additional advantage would be the ongoing problem surrounding the date of the Top 14 final which often leaves France without leading players in the first of three tour matches in SANZAR nations. In 2016 the extent of the problem is such that France will tour Argentina without any and all players involved in the play-offs. Playing a test in Montevideo would therefore be entirely plausible and extremely beneficial to the URU.

The format would end the North Americans limitation in having just one home fixture against a Tier One match in the year 2016. The Pacific Nations Cup could be organized to accommodate tours. As has taken place previously Fiji, Samoa and Tonga could have some matches outside of the release window as could Japan, Canada and the USA. Such a set-up would free-up dates to receive Six Nations teams. This is simplified with Tonga lacking the means to host international rugby and also with the Maori All Blacks touring.

Also being addressed would be the World Rugby Nations Cup and Tbilisi Cup which have seen Romania and Georgia play at home, thus lacking touring opportunities. There is room, as demonstrated below, for both to play in the Southern Hemisphere and South America and Southern Africa are both realistic destinations.

From a Tier 2 perspective such tours would be welcomed warmly. Standing in the way are the clubs and agreements would be required with the LNR and Premier Rugby so as to have players freely available. There is nonetheless substantial evidence to firmly suggest the plausibility of four match tours such as in June 2014 when England played the Barbarians at home before playing three tests in New Zealand and a mid-week match v Super Rugby side the Crusaders.

Also in 2014 Wales played a home international between the probables and possibles before playing away against the Eastern Province Kings and two tests against South Africa. One year earlier France played three tests in New Zealand a a mid-week match v the Blues while England played the Barbarians at home before playing once in Uruguay and twice in Argentina.