Rugby X: new five-a-side indoor format
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Rugby X: can new five-a-side format revolutionise rugby union?
An international tournament is planned to be held in London this October. First there was 15s, then there was sevens and soon rugby union will get a new five-a-side version of the sport. It’s reported today in The Times that a “radical” plan for indoor five-a-side rugby has been approved by World Rugby, the sport’s global governing body. Called “Rugby X”, the Times says that the fast-paced format could “revolutionise” the sport’s finances and have a “global appeal in the way that Twenty20 has transformed cricket”. Played indoors on artificial grass pitches, a first international tournament is set to be held in London this October and five more events are planned around the world for 2020. Five-a-side teams will play matches that are ten minutes in length. October’s tournament in London is set to be held at The O2 Arena and could feature men’s and women’s teams from nations such as England, Australia, France, Wales and Fiji. The Daily Mail says that while talks are ongoing “it seems clear that World Rugby are open to radically changing the landscape of the sport”. It’s hoped that Rugby X will “attract a young demographic both in terms of the live event but also coverage on television”.Rugby X: the rules * Played indoors on artificial grass pitches * Five players per team * Ten-minute matches * No half-time * Uncontested three-man scrums * No change of ends * Restart from goal-line with tap-and-goThe story apparently comes from the Times, so we don't know whether New Zealand has been left out on purpose, or whether we really won't have a team participating in this tournament. The question is, do we really need or want a new format like this?
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@Stargazer sounds pretty shit eh, although I probably said that about cricket max.
Rugby 5s isn't new - that's beach rugby. They say they are hoping to attract a young crowd, as though rugby doesn't already do that?
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Bro, the natural progression of this has already happened
Ladies and Gentleman, i give you Rugby XX - 1 a side AKA The Run It Straight Challenge
It's fast, it's entertaining, it takes 3 seconds, and best of all anyone can do it. The motherfucking future
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@mariner4life Fuck that, it's league (note label at the bottom, and no-arms in most of the 'tackles')
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Maybe not a bad game to play ... but I think the sevens market seems over saturated already, and this doesn't appear to be overly different to it.
@Stargazer said in Rugby X: new five-a-side indoor format:
The story apparently comes from the Times, so we don't know whether New Zealand has been left out on purpose, or whether we really won't have a team participating in this tournament. The question is, do we really need or want a new format like this?
Sensitive much?
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@MajorRage it's already played, just it's typically on a beach, not a court (and it's farking brutal).
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@Bones said in Rugby X: new five-a-side indoor format:
@MajorRage it's already played, just it's typically on a beach, not a court (and it's farking brutal).
Yeah, I've seen it in Hong Kong before on the beach. You'd certainly need to be fit.
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@MajorRage last time I played it out best player was a prop (he was 1.9m and 130kg). Next best was a couple of those small nuggety opensides you seem to find at most clubs in NZ that are just hard as fuck. It's really easy to put on a "smashed em bro" on sand, not so easy to step...
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Good - every clown can go play/ support this abomination and leave the adults to rugby.
From the Daily Mail:
Former England and Fiji sevens coach Ben Ryan has been helping to develop the format.
Well colour me surprised. If there's a stench of stupid ideas, he's near by. I don't know why this fluffybunny is feted - it's not like he coached Spain to win a gold medal ffs.
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@antipodean said in Rugby X: new five-a-side indoor format:
Good - every clown can go play/ support this abomination and leave the adults to rugby.
From the Daily Mail:
Former England and Fiji sevens coach Ben Ryan has been helping to develop the format.
Well colour me surprised. If there's a stench of stupid ideas, he's near by. I don't know why this fluffybunny is feted - it's not like he coached Spain to win a gold medal ffs.
Bit harsh. I'd recommend reading his book about what a sh*tshow Fiji rugby was when he arrived and how he turned it round to them winning in Rio. Its a fantastic read, and he comes across as a genuinely good bloke.
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Nothing confirmed on the World Rugby website, yet.
World Rugby backs Ben Ryan's five-a-side 'Rugby X' event
World Rugby has approved a radical new format of the game which is set to be given a trial run at an event in London later this year.
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I'll pass judgment after I've actually seen a few games. As I said, I'm not really a fan of indoor sports, but I can imagine that this might be a good option for people in areas that are - climatologically - not suitable or attractive for outdoor sports. It won't compete with real rugby, whether it's sevens, tens or XVs. It may compete with futsal, netball, volleyball etc.
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They should flag the 5 a side and create an international indoor bull rush tournament. Teams of 10 going at it. You get a point for each player that makes it to the other end. They could do squads of 15 but no injury replacements during the game. Any game ending in a tie will be decided with game of force back. Would be epic.
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Is Ben Ryan rugby's biggest flog?
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@Stargazer When will Ben Ryan fuck off? He's like a malignant tumor on rugby.
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@Toddy said in Rugby X: new five-a-side indoor format:
They should flag the 5 a side and create an international indoor bull rush tournament. Teams of 10 going at it. You get a point for each player that makes it to the other end. They could do squads of 15 but no injury replacements during the game. Any game ending in a tie will be decided with game of force back. Would be epic.
To be honest - Bull rush as a televised sport with pro teams might not really be a stupid idea - might have to be a bit like baseball, with quite a few innings. But the right format could be pretty entertaining - especially as tactics evolved.
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So we have 5's,7's,10's and 15's the article failed to answer the key question. When is the All Black Squat named.
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@Stargazer Shouldn't it be Rugby V?
X is 10 in Roman numerals - so thats confusing.Secondly, this just sounds like the shit we played on the tennis courts during high-school. Sure, it was touch. But still.
Whats the point?
For what its worth, I'd put Brodie Retallick, Tuivasa-Sheck, Rieko & Akira Ioane and Vilimoni Koroi on the park - Beaudy, Shaun Johnson and Tohu Harris. as subs. Just try and stop them. Thats my dream team anyways. (I did have Jason Taumolololoo be hes Tongan now eh...?)
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@westcoastie said in Rugby X: new five-a-side indoor format:
@Stargazer Shouldn't it be Rugby V?
X is 10 in Roman numerals - so thats confusing.Yes, agree 100%. In all current forms of rugby union, they name them after the number of players on the field per team. Now, they're naming it after the total number of players on the field. Doesn't make sense at all.
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@mariner4life said in Rugby X: new five-a-side indoor format:
Is Ben Ryan rugby's biggest flog?
Depends if Clive Woodward is still involved in the game these days
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@Stargazer said in Rugby X: new five-a-side indoor format:
@westcoastie said in Rugby X: new five-a-side indoor format:
@Stargazer Shouldn't it be Rugby V?
X is 10 in Roman numerals - so thats confusing.Yes, agree 100%. In all current forms of rugby union, they name them after the number of players on the field per team. Now, they're naming it after the total number of players on the field. Doesn't make sense at all.
just shows I don't think they have fully thought it through, just grasping at ideas
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@antipodean said in Rugby X: new five-a-side indoor format:
@Stargazer When will Ben Ryan fuck off? He's like a malignant tumor on rugby.
Wouldn’t quite go that far but if him Scott Johnson and Clive Woodward were all to wash up on a desert island somewhere and stay there for 30 or so years rugby would be better off .
Also I’ll add rugby 5s to the list of other sports I have no interest in watching . It can slot into the list between competitive walking and synchronised swimming .
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Holding this event in October is obviously an attempt to cash in on interest generated in UK during the Rugby World Cup. Lots of people will watch Rugby then for the only time in four years.
I guess the squads will be made up of players who miss out of their respective Nations RWC squads.
The ATP tour finals is moving out of the 02 in 2021 so there will be a vacancy for a big indoor sports event that can be held in London every November.
Personally, I would be surprised if this format captured the public's imagination. The international 7s format works well and has high-level exposure already. It might appeal to countries who for reason of cost or climate don't hold international 7s tournaments already.
But honestly, if you want great indoor entertainment that is a bit like NBA, then watch college Basketball or NBA.
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@jegga said in Rugby X: new five-a-side indoor format:
Wouldn’t quite go that far but if him Scott Johnson and Clive Woodward were all to wash up on a desert island somewhere and stay there for 30 or so years rugby would be better off .
Did John Mitchell’s invitation get lost in the mail or something?
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@rotated said in Rugby X: new five-a-side indoor format:
@jegga said in Rugby X: new five-a-side indoor format:
Wouldn’t quite go that far but if him Scott Johnson and Clive Woodward were all to wash up on a desert island somewhere and stay there for 30 or so years rugby would be better off .
Did John Mitchell’s invitation get lost in the mail or something?
While we're compiling the list I'd like to add the Hammettuer and Philpott. Colin Cooper has got one foot in the door this year too.
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@Nepia said in Rugby X: new five-a-side indoor format:
@rotated said in Rugby X: new five-a-side indoor format:
@jegga said in Rugby X: new five-a-side indoor format:
Wouldn’t quite go that far but if him Scott Johnson and Clive Woodward were all to wash up on a desert island somewhere and stay there for 30 or so years rugby would be better off .
Did John Mitchell’s invitation get lost in the mail or something?
While we're compiling the list I'd like to add the Hammettuer and Philpott. Colin Cooper has got one foot in the door this year too.
They never cast a stain on the game the way Mitchell etc did , they kept it more localised .
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@rotated said in Rugby X: new five-a-side indoor format:
@jegga said in Rugby X: new five-a-side indoor format:
Wouldn’t quite go that far but if him Scott Johnson and Clive Woodward were all to wash up on a desert island somewhere and stay there for 30 or so years rugby would be better off .
Did John Mitchell’s invitation get lost in the mail or something?
Very good call.
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Don't know what to make of this, sounds very gimmicky. With no lineouts is it even Rugby? 5 a side with full tackle - so like an east coast touch tournament !
The draw for the first ever RugbyX tournament has taken place, with top teams from around the globe confirmed to take part in this new World Rugby supported form of the game.The new format competition will take place at The O2 in London on 29 October 2019, with both a men’s and women’s tournament.
RugbyX is 5-v-5 full contact rugby and has been approved by World Rugby’s Executive Committee as a law trial. It will be played on a 55m x 32m artificial grass pitch, installed temporarily inside the O2.
Participating teams have been drawn from the leading international Sevens nations competing in HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.
Draw:
Men’s Group A – Barbarians, England, Ireland
Men’s Group B – Argentina, France, USA
Women’s Group A – England, Ireland
Women’s Group B – France, USA
Fans can expect to see the likes of England’s Dan Norton, Olympic silver medalist and all-time leading try scorer in sevens, and England women’s captain Abbie Brown, along with France’s charismatic captain Terry Bouhraoua and the USA’s double world player of the year Perry Baker take part in the debut competition.The core fundamentals of full contact rugby are being retained but variations of certain laws have been approved in order to encourage fast and skilful gameplay in an arena environment. There will be quick-tap restarts on the goal-line and no conversions.
Line-outs will be replaced by a quick throw from the team in possession and matches will last 10 minutes with no half-time.
World Rugby CEO Brett Gosper said: “The sanctioning of RugbyX marks an exciting step on World Rugby’s journey towards making the sport more accessible, providing an important entry point for new audiences to experience the joy, speed and skill of rugby in an indoor arena environment.
“Innovation is crucial to the continuing success of any sport and RugbyX presents a great opportunity to capitalise on increasing global interest in the days immediately preceding the Rugby World Cup final in Japan.”
