What is this all about ?

Overview

 

· Rugby’s growth and development, especially with broadcasters and sponsors amongst Tier 2 & Tier 3 nations around the world, suffers as a result of limited participation into the Six Nations, Super 14 and Heineken Cup competitions.

· There is a global demand from Tier 2 & 3 nations, as well as surplus elite players from the top 10 rugby playing nations, to collectively have an annual global rugby competition which makes provision for relegation and promotion in a professional tournament that is below the Six nations, Super 14 and Heineken Cup competitions.

· The tournament and the participating 20 rugby franchises are underwritten by broadcast and participating sponsors, who seek to associate themselves with the development of rugby participants and a wider television audience of 300 million.

· Rugby in the United States has over 2,000 rugby clubs, playing over 50,000 matches a year. It is from this base that the tournament will be built, as rugby, in the US, is growing at a rate of over 25% a year.

· The Youth sector growth rate of 300% a year makes Rugby the fastest growing sport in the US today.

· Over 70% of rugby players in the US make over $75,000 a year, 98% are college graduates and Rugby is the fastest growing sport on college campuses.

· The popularity of the game of rugby globally and on the domestic level has brought about a significant growth in the availability of broadcast options, merchandising and licensing, especially in the Americas, but the real driving force is the professionalism of rugby via the establishment of a World Series Rugby tournament with 20 franchise properties

 

The Super 20 Rugby World Series tournament would work as follows:

Timing:

2008-2012 from July-November (Not ever in a IRB Rugby World Cup year)
Mechanics: 20 Franchises each receiving $250K pm, or US$3m pa as follows:
USA 8
Canada 2
Argentina 1
Brazil 1
Europe 4
Pacific Rim 2
South Africa 2

 

 

· In a feeder tournament, a Challengers-in-Waiting Series, there is a registration of 3 Franchises-In-Waiting, 12 months in advance of the previous years S20RWS tournament, to play the 2 last placed Super 20 sides, who would face relegation each year. These 3 Franchises-In-Waiting and the last placed 2 sides play a Super 20 Promotion Tournament in a Home, & Away series in which the top 2 teams of the log, are promoted and qualify for the Super 20 Rugby World Series. This is intended to make the Series as competitive as possible.

 

· Each of the 23 Franchises throws its doors open to quasi-professional rugby players, as they can recruit up to 8 foreign players from a squad of 30, to cultivate the best rugby players locally. This free market player system, opens up the trading of registered S20RWS players, plus develops the quality of rugby nationally and internationally and retains the value of the franchise and broadcast airtime for the sponsors and advertisers.

 

· Underwriting for this tournament is provided via Sponsorship from corporates in the Americas, Europe and Southern Hemisphere, and is offered via broadcasting time, in a broadcast package, to go to a global audience of 300 million, as well as exclusive sponsorship rights in product categories.