Rugby needs Club World Cup

SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer says the Club World Cup will force South African teams to take the Investec Champions Cup seriously.

EPCR chairman Dominic McKay confirmed on Saturday that the inaugural edition of the Club World Cup would launch in 2028 with support from all unions and both hemispheres.

The 16-team tournament will take place every four years and comprise the eight Champions Cup quarter-finalists, the top seven sides in Super Rugby and one Japanese club. There will reportedly be four pools of four teams followed by semi-finals and a final.

According to EPCR, the Champions Cup playoffs will be “elevated” to the Club World Cup in a season in which the latter is played.

“Once every four years, starting off in 2028, we’re going to bring the greatest clubs from the southern hemisphere to battle it out against the greatest clubs in the northern hemisphere – and who wouldn’t want to find out who the greatest club in the world is as a consequence of that,” said McKay. “It promises to be absolutely box office.”

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Oberholzer, who was in Cardiff for the Champions Cup final between Bordeaux and Northampton on Saturday, told Rapport a Club World Cup was “something that has been lacking in world rugby competition between the cream of the northern and southern hemispheres.

“It will force SA teams to take the Champions Cup seriously,” he said, referring to the fact that the Vodacom URC has been prioritised by the Vodacom Bulls, Sharks and Stormers, with no SA side reaching this season’s Champions Cup playoffs.

“The financial aspect is something that still needs to be figured out,” Oberholzer added. “At this stage, only projections have been made, but if accurate, the Club World Cup could be financially beneficial.

“Officially, no structures have been put in place yet and no broadcasting rights or sponsorships have been sold. So the financial impact will only be determined in the future.

“The announcement is somewhat premature, with a lot of detail outstanding, and we don’t have all the answers yet.”

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