The current 2023 Rugby World Cup in France consists of four pools of five teams, with the two top countries from each group qualifying for the quarter-final stage
Fans currently savouring the 2023 Rugby World Cup may need to brace themselves for an overhaul in four years’ time.
The current tournament in France has proved enthralling thus far, with the hosts in prime position to reach the last eight after their dramatic opening night win in New Zealand. Saturday’s game between Ireland and South Africa also proved an all-time classic, with the Irish prevailing 13-8 following 80 minutes of immense physicality.
But the performances of the so-called lesser nations has also caught the eye. The French themselves were made to struggle by Uruguay before winning 27-12, while minnows Portugal raised eyebrows with a spirited display against Wales and a thrilling draw with Georgia.
And such performances have prompted World Rugby into a rethink. Indeed, the next tournament in Australia in four years’ time is set to expand to 24 teams, providing more international sides with the opportunity to qualify.
According to a report in the Telegraph, bosses are considering the ‘Swiss model’ pool stage that has been favoured by the European Rugby Champions Cup and now the football equivalent, the Champions League. A final decision is yet to be made, but a change of format is seemingly under serious consideration.
“Chile had a tough match against a very strong England side who played some great rugby at the weekend,” said World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin, after the South Americans were beaten 71-0. “But Chile played brilliantly against Japan the first game in this World Cup.
“Portugal, I mean, how amazing have Portugal been in this tournament? In the Rugby World Cup for the second time; Chile for the first time. And so on. The signs are very positive.”
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Gilpin also confirmed that he believed an expanded event would be the correct move: “I personally believe you’ve got to do it, you’ve just got to commit to it and then you invest in the high-performance programmes of the teams that are likely to be those four-to-six teams.”
Such a move, however, would bring complications. Were the four-team group format to continue, it would only leave room for the six group winners, and two best runners-up, to go through – whilst a last-16 stage would extend an already lengthy tournament beyond two months.
But Europe’s premier club competition has previously experimented the Swiss model with two pools of 12, while the 2024-25 Champions League will adopt a similar format. The Rugby World Cup has consisted of 20 teams ever since the 1999 version, having previously only accommodated 16.
