Former All Blacks fly-half Stephen Donald says that ending the Rugby Championship in favour of a touring format would be an ‘absolute tragedy’.
This is because Australia and Argentina are ‘finally’ at the same level as the Springboks and All Blacks, following arguably the most competitive edition of the tournament.
South Africa defended their title on the final day, clinching a narrow victory over Los Pumas at the Allianz Stadium in Twickenham to edge past New Zealand on the standings.
It’s the first time in the tournament’s history that the Springboks have won back-to-back championships, but they won’t have the opportunity to make a three-peat of titles next year with the competition shelved for 2026, with the All Blacks set to tour South Africa during the usual window when the competition is held.
The future of the Rugby Championship is currently being discussed by the respective unions’ bigwigs, and there is a possibility that the format of the competition as it is known now may cease to exist.
Rugby Championship’s future?
It could shift the tours format, with initial plans suggesting that Australia would tour New Zealand in 2028, with Argentina and South Africa making alternative plans that year, much like Los Pumas and the Wallabies will in 2026.
Donald discussed the future of the tournament with fellow former All Blacks Mils Muliaina and Aaron Cruden, who are all enticed by the prospect of the tours but wary of the impact that it will have on the strength of the Southern Hemisphere nations.
“I’m looking forward to the tours, I won’t lie, because it is going to bring something different; it’s enlightening,” ex-full-back Muliaina said on Sky Sports’ Breakdown.
“But I suppose in many ways, for a lot of people, we didn’t expect this Rugby Championship to be so competitive.
“The Argentines have also come to the party as well. One thing that it does cement is needed. The South Africans and the Australians have bumped up their quality as well, so does it need to be every year? I think so.”
Donald agrees that the Rugby Championship should be played on a yearly basis, adding that it would be a real shame for the tournament to be binned when all four teams are on the same level.
“It’s always a balancing thing, but of course it has to be (a yearly competition). Historically, both Argentina and Australia have had their moments, but they’ve come back now at the same time,” the ex-fly-half said.
“The Six Nations is a great event and all the games are an event on game day and all the rest of it but when Australia and Argentina get their house in order, which they have now, there’s nothing that can match the competitiveness of these four teams, who are traditionally, conservatively in the top six of the world and that’s where they historically live.
“It’d be an absolute tragedy now after finally getting those two teams back to the Boks and All Blacks level to do away with it.”
Cruden’s thoughts
Cruden added that the tours will need to be competitive in order for them to be successful, and questioned if it would be possible to fit in the tours and the Rugby Championship in the same year.
“I am really excited by the tour, but if you put your thinking cap on and go down the tour route, it needs to be top quality, and obviously in South Africa next year, we know it is going to be,” he said.
“When we go to other countries, is the quality of competition we’re exposing our All Blacks to really at the level it needs to be? So, it is a tricky one, and it’s hard to argue against the level of competition in the Rugby Championship this year, and if that just continues to grow, I think you do have to have that yearly. It’s just where you can fit tours in, and powers that be are trying to work that out.”
While the tours format was reportedly signed off by the SANZAAR board. However, it is now understood that Rugby Australia boss Phil Waugh has had a change of heart and following the competitiveness of this year’s competition.
Additionally, he has tabled the idea of moving the Rugby Championship to align with the Six Nations. All but New Zealand Rugby are on board with the suggestion, but can be convinced if there is a slight shift in the Six Nations kick-off date.