mercredi 26 février 2020

World Rugby secretly modified his bye-law about his Council members

Between December 5, 2019 and February 26. 2020, the most important bye-law for the gouvernance of World Rugby have been changed without any notice. 

Bye-Law 9 is about the World Rugby Council. The Council decides everything matters in international rugby. The Council vote to elect the president and vice-president, it choose the host of money making Rugby World Cups, but also the host of plenty of tournaments around the world. it also decides the format of tournaments, it can sanction World Rugby members. The Council basically make what international rugby looks like. Last year Gus Pichot's Nations Championship was abandoned because council didn't want it.

Thanks to Google cache of the modified web page, we can easily see every changes made since December 5.

9.1 didn't changed.

9.2 Applying to join Council (c) was modified to be in line with new 9.3

The former version was :

The current version is :

New version adds a new (ii) allowing the former members of the Council to come back to it qualifying to only the last men's Rugby World Cup. Former version clearly states every members need to qualify for the last two men's RWC.

9.2 (d) was entirely modified.

The former version was :
The current version is :

The former version was key one. It basically says members who failed to qualify for the last RWC will be excluded from the Council in January following RWC.
Romania must have been excluded from the council ceasing to satisfy this criteria.

9.3 is a brand new paragraph

It creates a new concept of "Ceasing to fulfill criteria". It was only made to protect the current Council members to lost their seat failing to qualify for a RWC.
The paragraph only benefits Romania allowing Alin Petrache to save his seat.
In the future, this article will have a lot of consequences. It means every nations which failed to qualify for a RWC will continue to have power at the Council. For example, if Italy weren't able to qualify they will still have three seats during the next four years.
From now current members will have to miss two consecutive men's Rugby World Cup to lost seats at the Council.
Today it saves Alin Petrache's seat and probably satisfies current Rugby Europe representative Romanian Octavian Morariu. Two voters for the next election of president in May 2020.
According (c), Romania will still have a representative at the Council until December 31st, 2023, until they failed to qualify for two consecutive RWC.

The discretion about this major change was obviously to avoid any reaction. World Rugby just changed his own regulations in the last hour to allow an old member to keep privileges. That won't help World Rugby to improve his democratic reputation.

Former version of bye-law 9



mardi 16 juillet 2019

Top 20 nations for registered players in a four year table

Here the full numbers in the last four years.


Union
Registered players according World Rugby Year in review

2018
2017
2016
2015
1
South Africa
635,288
530,393
405,438
358,378
2
England
355,153
359,447
382,154
363,667
3
Australia
271,922
273,095
230,753
241,577
4
France
258,247
272,792
542,242
283,483
5
New Zealand
156,074
155,934
150,727
150,564
6
USA
131,748
124,726
119,682
116,532
7
Fiji
123,900
122,489
122,453
66,124
8
Kenya
122,840
52,261
50,541
19,653
9
Argentina
121,281
109,357
105,151
97,940
10
China
113,686
49,502
35,361
23,500
11
Japan
108,796
109,312
105,693
106,120
12
Wales
107,959
94,000
83,120
75,421
13
Ireland
94,067
103,044
101,922
165,414
14
Italy
77,739
82,243
87,211
77,284
15
Sri Lanka
59,509
57,332
55,282
54,892
16
Madagascar
48,946
42,140
34,393
27,485
17
Scotland
46,050
47,703
49,265
49,305
18
Malaysia
38,022
10,950
10,250
9,350
19
Zimbabwe
32,895
31,328
26,318
24,110
20
Spain
29,081
33,482
34,822
27,510

*Best year in blue, worst year in red.

It's obvious some unions are lying in particular year. Huge rise in poor unions can also mean an improvement in record method.

lundi 15 juillet 2019

Decoding World Rugby participation numbers

First, it would be useless to talk about the total players column. This number is a vastly joke aggregating every small initiatives where a boy touches a rugby ball. If soccer were to use a similar number, nearly 100% of male children on this planet would be in.
Only the "registered players" column deserves an analysis despite being far from perfect. According these imperfect numbers from World Rugby Year in review, total of registered players around the world knows a unprecedented 9 percent rise from 3.2 to 3.5 millions. This could be explained by several factors.

Top 10 nations overall for registered players

South Africa leads the ranking with an astonishing number of 635,288 players. Rugby is really massive grassroots sport in SA like anywhere else. This number surpasses the sum of the second and third nations and represent more than 18% of world total of registered players. This number allows to better understand the massive presence of SA players all around the world and the key role of South Africa in World Rugby internal politic. SA numbers are continuously rising more the sport spreads in all the nation. South Africa had 405,438 players in 2016 and 530,393 in 2017.

England is now easy 2nd with 355,153 since France numbers collapsed. Despite a slight decrease, participation numbers in England remains high since a decade now as no other grassroots sport emerges in UK. Australia confirm the third place taken in 2017 with a surprisingly stable number at 271,922 registered players. Despite all comments, Australia remains a highly sportive nation. And despite the competition of Aussie rule, rugby league and soccer, rugby union stays a well-implemented sport in Down Under.

France collapse (4th) seems like no end and is real to 258,247. France were the number one nation in registered players in 2016 with 542,242. This number came from a rise following 2007 RWC at home and 2011 RWC run to the final. According World Rugby, France lost half of his registered players in two years. It's more probable the decrease started earlier but it's true. Rugby badly suffered from the fantastic emergence of basketball in the last few years (nearly 700,000 players) and the constant rise of handball (550,000 players), this is a massive issue for World Rugby and easily explains why 2023 RWC hosting rights were awarded to France.

Only the top four nations represent more than 1,5 millions registered players. That can be considered as a huge problem when you observed France's situation.

New Zealand is the fifth nation in the world in registered players with steady number above 150,000. Many thought USA (6th, 131,748) would climb above New Zealand in 2018 but the participation doesn't rise as fast as expected (119,682 in 2016). Recent reports of insider claims numbers could decrease. Fiji is 7th with a logical steady number (123,900) considering the total population.

Numbers start to be dubious with Kenya rising to the 8th place in the world (from 52,261 to 122,840...). Kenya is well known to have improving participation numbers across Africa, but this one can't be considered seriously until next year. Argentina (9th, 121,281) continue his constant progression (97,940 in 2015, 105,151 in 2016, 109,357 in 2017) but he's now trailed by a giant. China seems to seriously gear up to reach 113,686 registered players. Considering the population of China, this is easy. World Rugby goal is to reach 1 million players in China in 2026. This is perfectly feasible. Don't be surprised to see China surpassed England in the next two years.

Asia top 5

So Japan lost his historic first place for participation numbers to China. Land of the rising sun will probably never recovers it. Japan numbers tend to prove most of the numbers are seriously documented because Japan lost some players in 2018 (108,796 from 109,312 in 2017). Japan neither benefit from last RWC performance or 2019 RWC at home. Third place in Asia goes to the traditional rugby nation of Sri Lanka (59,509) which have solid numbers since years.

Malaysia is 4th with another doubtful number. According World Rugby, registered players in Malaysia would have risen to 38,022 from 10,950 in 2017, 10,250 in 2016, 9,350 in 2015. Rugby is surely on the rise in Malaysia but this would be a 347% improvement in 12 months. It's also possible numbers from 2017 and 2016 were wrong.

India (Asia 5th) continue its slow hard progression to 27,681 registered players. So much needs to be done.

Six nations suffering, rest of Europe improving

Neither Ireland, Wales, Italy or Scotland are in the top 10 nations for participation. Ireland is surprisingly affected by a hefty decrease with only 94,067 registered players in 2018 against 103,044 a year before. According World Rugby, Ireland recorded 165,414 in 2015. Wales is on a regular rise with 107,959 registered players from 75,421 in 2015.

Italy (Europe 5th, 77,739) came back to the performance of 2015 after a rise to 87,211 in 2016. Scotland (6th) have a slight loss to 46,050 from 49,265 in 2016. Spain is 7th in Europe with 29,081 registered players down from 34,822 two years ago. Russia is 8th with a slight progression in recent years (28,158). Other European nations don't reach 15,000.

Small African nation rising

Madagascar (Africa 3rd) is still on a big rise and reach a superb number of 48,946 registered players. Let's hope new soccer mania following historic run in AFCON won't hurt this. Unexpected 

Rwanda have a strong solid rise in the last four years. From more than 7,000 in 2015 to more than 18,000 a year later, Victoria Lake state now records 27,304 players. Rwanda has more than 12 millions inhabitants, so still to come. Traditional African nations Zimbabwe and Uganda are in slow progression around 30,000 players.

Canada numbers are steady since years around 28,000 registered players.

Despite a slight improvement, Brazil numbers (18,316) aren't especially impressive considering the population of the country.

Worth the note : Solomon Islands have 12,128 registered players, nearly the same number as Samoa. Colombia doubled its numbers to 8,813 but still far from expectations. The same for Mexico (9,142) Rugby in Korea is dying now with 987 players down from 2,220 in 2015.

World Top 20 in 2018 :


  1. South Africa 635,288 registered players
  2. England 355,153
  3. Australia 271,922
  4. France 258,247
  5. New Zealand 156,074
  6. USA 131,748
  7. Fiji 123,900
  8. Kenya 122,840
  9. Argentina 121,281
  10. China 113,686
  11. Japan 108,796
  12. Wales 107,959
  13. Ireland  94,067
  14. Italy  77,739
  15. Sri Lanka 59,509
  16. Madagascar 48,946
  17. Scotland 46,050
  18. Malaysia 38,022
  19. Zimbabwe 32,895
  20. Spain 29,081




samedi 13 août 2016

Make the ATP-like World Sevens Tour

Now it's done, rugby 7s became a primary Olympic sport in Rio. No surprise there, we all knew the sport's potential. We knew people will fell in love in front of such a show. Sevens is probably the most entertaining things ever happened in the history of sports. 
Now it's time to move forward. Quickly. Not in the usual rugby timing. Sevens definitely proved it can attract people on several days' sequences. The tournament model must expand. More than expand, it must be opened. It's time for sevens to enter in open era.
World Rugby need to create a World Ranking which record all the tournaments played week after week. The tournaments must be ordered in different levels. Keep the current legs of the World Rugby Sevens as mandatory events for the top 20 teams to make them Masters 1000-like. Create open qualifying for every tournaments. Create a level of non-mandatory 16-team tournaments under that. Make an annual 32-team Rugby World Cup Sevens. Make a season final event as the Masters Cup.
Open Sevens !
A limited number of non-mandatory tournaments should be recorded in the World Ranking. This will guarantee big teams involvement in all of them. A lot of cities are already interested hosting regular sevens tournament. Remember that a record number of unions bid to host the next Rugby World Cup Sevens. We could see Sevens World Tour legs in Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, Fiji, Brazil, Argentina, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Wales. Many already host nations would like to host more tournaments : New Zealand in Auckland, England in the north, USA in the east, France in Marseille. Sevens future is bright. There is no time to wait.

jeudi 19 mars 2015

This is unfair rugby
World Rugby Regulation 9 infringements of the week (3/?)

Each week of international rugby, I will give the list of every first string players retained by their professional club. These clubs violates without any fear one of the most important regulation of World Rugby. You can read the regulation about availability of players here.

Week of 15/03 to 21/03/2015

Italy-Wales : Nobody

England-France : Nobody

Scotland-Ireland : Nobody

This week, the list of outlaws clubs is shortening thanks to Carcassonne discovery of Word Rugby Laws.

Russia-Portugal :
Despite being heavily composed of domestic players, Russia can't play with all his best players.
Kirill Kulemin of Perpignan improperly retired but only for his national team which is not at the level of his club...

It's worse than ever for Portugal...
These players are retained :
Lionel Campergue of Périgueux (French level 3)
Tony Martins of Limoges (French level 3)
Mike Tadjer of Massy
Fabio Da Silva of Bourgoin
Samuel Marques of Pau
David Penalva of Montauban
Christian Spachuk of Bourgoin
Pedro Bettencourt Avila of Clermont
Julien Bardy of Clermont

Romania-Georgia
Romania get back most of his players. Last week, a depleted Romania nearly lost its first game against Germany since 1938.
Catalin Fercu of Saracens

Still some respect to Georgia. Dmitri Basilaia returned from an injury last week. We can't be sure he's retained by Perpignan

Spain-Germany :
Late January, Spain designated a 53-player squad list. Excellent players from Top 14 and Pro D2 were named in the squad. This list strangely disappeared from the official website of FER. This is Spain fifth game in the Rugby Europe Championship.
More players than ever from this list will play against Germany. Many players are no more retained fot the last match of Spain in the REC. Are still illegally retained since the beginning :
Charly Malie of Montauban
Mathieu Belie of Perpignan
Charles Giménez of Biarritz
Mathieu Peluchon of Albi

Those Spanish players are retained for the second consecutive week :
Gauthier Giboin of Montauban
Marco Pinto Ferrer of Béziers

Germany get back most of his retained players from last week.
Still retained :
Rob Elloway of London Welsh

jeudi 12 mars 2015

This is unfair rugby
World Rugby Regulation 9 infringements of the week

Each week of international rugby, I will give the list of every first string players retained by their professional club. These clubs violates without any fear one of the most important regulation of World Rugby. You can read the regulation about availability of players here.

Week of 08/03 to 14/03/2015

Wales-Ireland : Nobody

Italy-France : Nobody

England-Scotland : Nobody

This week, the list of outlaws clubs is longer than ever.

Portugal-Spain :
Some clubs illegally decided that releasing Portuguese players to play for Germany was enough... Good point for Périgueux who decided to give up illegality releasing Lionel Campergue.
These players are retained :
Mike Tadjer of Massy
José Lima of Carcassonne
Fabio Da Silva of Bourgoin
Samuel Marques of Pau
David Penalva of Montauban
Christian Spachuk of Bourgoin
Pedro Bettencourt Avila of Clermont
Julien Bardy of Clermont

Late January, Spain designated a 53-player squad list. Excellent players from Top 14 and Pro D2 were named in the squad. This list strangely disappeared from the official website of FER. This is Spain fourth game in the Rugby Europe Championship.
None of the players above appeared for Spain for all four :
Mathieu Visensang of Bayonne
Sebastien Rouet of Narbonne
Charly Malie of Montauban
Mathieu Belie of Perpignan
Christopher Ruiz of Narbonne
Fabien Gramático of Carcassonne
Charles Giménez of Biarritz
Mathieu Peluchon of Albi

New players retained are :
Guillaume Rouet of Bayonne
Beñat Auzqui of Bordeaux-Bègles
Gauthier Giboin of Montauban
Fernando Lopez of Massy
Marco Pinto Ferrer of Béziers

First four names were starting two weeks ago against Georgia.

Georgia-Russia
Clubs definitly start to respect Georgia. Maybe World Rugby take care. None Georgian first team players were retained this week.

Despite being heavily composed of domestic players, Russia can't play with all his best players.
Kirill Kulemin of Perpignan improperly retired but only for his national team which is not at the level of his club...

Germany-Romania :
Germany lost more players because of rule 9 infringements.
Are retained :
Damien Tussac of Montauban
Rob Elloway of London Welsh
Chris Hilsenbeck of Colomiers
Paul Bosh of Nevers (French level 3)

Romania lost more players than two weeks ago. Perpignan finally released Paulica Ion.
Mihai Lazar of Castres
Horace Pungea of Lyon
Alin Coste of Carcassonne
Andrei Ursache of Carcassonne
Last time, I forgot (sadly they're still retained) :
Catalin Fercu of Romania
Mihai Macovei of Massy
Valentin Ursache of Oyonnax


Belgium-Moldova : 
Last week, La Rochelle retained a Dutch play, this week, this a Belgian :
Julien Berger of La Rochelle
Jens Torfs of Perpignan
Guillaume Piron of Colomiers

Ospreys finally released Dmitri Arhip. Uncertaincy remains for :
Vadim Cobilas of Sale Sharks
Maxim Cobilas of Sale Sharks
Andrei Mahu of Zebre


vendredi 27 février 2015

Unfair Rugby Feature
World Rugby Regulation 9 infringements of the week

Each week of international rugby, I will give the list of every first string players retained by their professional club. These clubs violates without any fear one of the most important regulation of World Rugby. You can read the regulation about availability of players here.

Week of 23/02 to 01/03/2015

Scotland-Italy : Nobody

France-Wales : Nobody

Ireland-England : Nobody

Spain-Georgia :
Late January, Spain designated a 53-player squad list. Excellent players from Top 14 and Pro D2 were named in the squad. This list strangely disappeared from the official website of FER. This is Spain third meeting of the Rugby Europe Championship.
None of the players above appeared for Spain for all three :
Mathieu Visensang of Bayonne
Sebastien Rouet of Narbonne
Charly Malie of Montauban
Mathieu Belie of Perpignan
Christopher Ruiz of Narbonne
Fabien Gramático of Carcassonne
Charles Giménez of Biarritz
Mathieu Peluchon of Albi

This week only :
Marco Pinto Ferrer of Béziers

Georgia situation is improving, maybe the clubs start to see that retaining Georgians is more visible.
Only one player is retained to play for Georgia this week :
Davit Zirakashvili of Clermont

Portugal-Germany :
Portugal lost last week by a small margin against Georgia, many first string players were absent, this week they were released to play against Germany. Still many players are retained :
José Lima of Carcassonne
Lionel Campergue of Périgueux
Fabio Da Silva of Bourgoin
Samuel Marques of Pau
David Penalva of Montauban
Christian Spachuk of Bourgoin

Germany lost last week without several first choice.
Are retained :
Damien Tussac of Montauban
Rob Elloway of London Welsh

Russia-Romania : 
Despite being heavily composed of domestic players, Russia can't play with all his best players.
Kirill Kulemin of Perpignan retired but only for his national team which is not at the level of his club...

Romania got back several players against Spain but some remains retained.
Paulica Ion of Perpignan (yes again)
Alin Coste of Carcassonne (yes again)
Andrei Ursache of Carcassonne (...)

Netherlands-Moldova : 
This Dutch player is retained :
Zeno Kieft of La Rochelle

Moldova seems to have no rights inside World Rugby :
Vadim Cobilas of Sale Sharks
Maxim Cobilas of Sale Sharks
Dmitru Arhip of Ospreys
Andrei Mahu of Zebre
All are retained.