Progressive Rugby question feasibility of World 12s in player welfare-driven sport
This article was written by Progressive Rugby
Progressive Rugby have raised concerns around player welfare following proposals for a new 12-a-side rugby competition in an already critically congested rugby calendar.
World 12s would take place in England in August, 2022 and feature 192 of the world's best players, picked via auction to represent eight franchises.
Organisers say 12s is a “natural evolution for rugby,” that the format can “excite a global fanbase in the way seen with IPL,” and the board has significant pedigree in Ian Ritchie, former chief executive of the RFU, former WRU chairman Gareth Davies and former NZ RU chief executive Steve Tew.
They hope to inject as much as £250m into rugby union through the tournament and will offer equal prize money for men and women, with the women's competition proposed for 2023.
A Progressive Rugby spokesperson said: “Progressive Rugby wholeheartedly supports efforts to grow the popularity of this wonderful game and attract the next generation of players and fans. In addition, players have the right to earn extra income in what is a limited career.
“However, it’s crucial that this doesn’t come at a detriment to player welfare. Given the already congested world rugby calendar and the evidence of heightened risk associated with increased playing time, yet another format of the game does not appear feasible.
“We would expect complete transparency around how player workloads will be monitored and the sanctions to be used in the event of non compliance.”
Most players for the new format would be selected from Tier One nations but every franchise will be required to select at least two players from Tier Two nations and one under-20s international player.
World 12s also said "informal" conversations with World Rugby had been "constructive" but the World Rugby were less enthused siting a busy calendar and player welfare.
While there has been support for the concept, noticeably from England and Harlequins scrum-half Danny Care, there has been a significant resistance.
Northampton Saints boss Chris Boyd said: “It’s always an interesting conundrum, players are represented by the payers’ association who are always talking about the need for player rest and player welfare and controlling minutes and then all of a sudden something comes in that has a nice little juicy financial carrot in it and suddenly some of those things might not be quite as important as they were before.”
'We would expect complete transparency around how player welfare was monitored.'
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