The world of sports as we know it is changing and new formats are being introduced to change the sporting world. First, was the rebranding of UEFA Champions League, then the shocking news of the merger between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and LIV Golf, and now the latest reports emerging from World Rugby is the impending launch of the Rugby World League.
World Rugby's plans for a World League are nothing new and have been mentioned for many years, but the latest reports from Georgia state that these plans are in the final stages. Under the new format, the league will replace the traditional July Test series and the November internationals with six teams from each hemisphere split into two groups.
One of the benefits of the league format is that there will be a ‘grand final' held every two years between the log leaders of both groups. Six Nations purists will be pleased to learn that under the new format, the ringfencing of the Six Nations will mean that the Springboks will not be allowed to compete in the historic competition. Under the new format, the promotion of global alignment of fixtures and player welfare will be prioritized, and players' workloads will be managed.
Unfortunately, there will be plenty of criticism when the World League is officially launched, as the impact of the Rugby World Cup will lose some of its prestige, as many will consider the new format a ‘mini world cup'. The exclusion of Tier Two nations is also controversial and could result in the demise of many emerging nations. Finally, losing traditional tours will leave a void for many die-hard Rugby fans.
Structure and Schedule of the Rugby World League
Under the new format from 2026, twelve teams will be split into two groups of six, and the top team from each group will meet in a ‘grand final' every two years. The remaining teams will also compete in ranking playoff games. The report mentions that the twelve teams will comprise of the Six Nations sides, the Rugby Championship sides, Japan, and Fiji.
The twelve teams will be in two groups based on their World Ranking, and as an example, the two groups may resemble:
Group A:
- France
- New Zealand
- England
- Wales
- Argentina
- Japan
Group B:
- Ireland
- South Africa
- Australia
- Scotland
- Italy
- Fiji
The schedule will see Northern Hemisphere sides play three Southern Hemisphere opponents away from home in the July window, with the Northern Hemisphere sides then hosting the Southern Hemisphere teams during the November window. The Six Nations and the British and Irish Lions Tour will remain in their current windows. Still, there is speculation that the Rugby Championship may be held earlier to accommodate the World League.
The potential outcomes of the World League could throw up some mouth-watering matches, such as a potential ‘grand final' between New Zealand vs Ireland, and both sides should start as favourites for the new league. We could even witness a potential rematch from the 2019 Rugby World Cup, should England meet South Africa in the ‘grand final'. Japan and Fiji will be the underdogs in the new league and will have hopes of causing a few upsets, especially if one of the sides can meet Italy in the group stage.
How this might affect online casinos and sports betting
One of the beneficiaries of the new Rugby World League is online casinos, sportsbooks, and Rugby bettors. The new format will create betting opportunities and increase the demand and supply of online betting markets, such as live betting and outright betting. Due to the matches being more competitive under the new format, the potential betting markets and odds will also be more competitive. More bets should be placed on betting markets like match results, halftime/fulltime, handicaps and points totals. Bringing in more Rugby bettors will also allow the best New Zealand casinos to promote their casino games like slots, progressive jackpots and lucky numbers.
Some strategies and tips that we can offer Rugby bettors who hope to gain an edge on online casinos and sportsbooks regarding betting on the new format; should research the World League format, research the teams and players, compare the betting odds and manage their betting bankrolls and budgets.
Our article aimed to provide readers with an insight into the new Rugby World League format and how the world of Rugby will change. There are pros to the new format, such as more competitive matches and the promotion of global alignment and player welfare. However, some cons include losing traditional tours and excluding Tier Two nations, as the World League will be ringfenced till 2030. We are certain that the new format will positively affect Rugby's growth, sustainability and development and add competitiveness and popularity to the game. The new format will also benefit online casinos, sportsbooks and Rugby bettors as a new format means more betting opportunities. The sporting world is ever-changing, and World Rugby does not want to be left behind, so it revamped the sport with the Rugby World League. So, will you welcome the new format, or are you hesitant to change and progress?
