Midweek games for all at RWC 2015

[beige]

Top nations will play midweek games at the 2015 World Cup after agreeing to a revised twenty-team structure.

The IRB Tier One chairmen and chief executives met on Auckland on Monday to discuss the format and schedule of the tournament as well as the economics of the game.

The quick turnaround time faced by smaller teams has been a contentious issue at the current event and has garnered much criticism.

With some teams playing four games in sixteen days while others enjoyed nearly a week between each game, the playing field was far from level.

However, it appears that this may not be a problem in the future.

"The Tier One Union delegates at the meeting committed to playing mid-week matches during RWC 2015 in order to help achieve a better balance for Tier Two and Tier Three Unions," the World Cup organisers said in a statement.

Read more: http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,2...233481,00.html

[TOCC]

Mid-week games = larger squads
Posted via Mobile Device

[Sheikh]

Mid-week games = larger squads
Posted via Mobile Device

Why? This gives coaches two options:

1) 15 start on the weekend and then the other 15 start the mid-week match. This might mean you only carry 2 hookers and a scrum-half plays out of position in one match, but you give each player a rest.

2) Some players double-up and play in both games. If it's someone who got pulled in the first match (and only played ~60 minutes) they could do it.

Of course, if there are injuries, some players will have to double-up anyway.

The Tier Two & Three coaches have had to deal with this for the last few world cups - it's about time the Tier One coaches who, by definition, have more talented, and probably fitter, squads had to deal with this too. Makes the matches fairer and gives the lesser teams a better chance of an upset.

[travelling_gerry]

I think what they mean with mid week games is to give some of the minnow countries a chance to rest by some of the teir 1's playing midweek.