Former All Blacks fly-half Stephen Donald says that ending the Rugby Championship in favour of a touring format would be an \u2018absolute tragedy\u2019.<\/p>\n
This is because Australia and Argentina are \u2018finally\u2019 at the same level as the Springboks and All Blacks, following arguably the most competitive edition of the tournament.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s the first time in the tournament\u2019s history that the Springboks<\/a> have won back-to-back championships, but they won\u2019t have the opportunity to make a three-peat of titles next year with the competition shelved for 2026, with the All Blacks<\/a> set to tour South Africa during the usual window when the competition is held.<\/p>\n The future of the Rugby Championship<\/a> is currently being discussed by the respective unions\u2019 bigwigs, and there is a possibility that the format of the competition as it is known now may cease to exist.<\/p>\n Rugby Championship\u2019s future?<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m looking forward to the tours, I won\u2019t lie, because it is going to bring something different; it\u2019s enlightening,\u201d ex-full-back Muliaina said on Sky Sports\u2019 Breakdown.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I suppose in many ways, for a lot of people, we didn\u2019t expect this Rugby Championship to be so competitive.<\/p>\n \u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Rugby Championship Team of the Year: Nine Springboks and three All Blacks as Eben Etzebeth \u2018sets every standard\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s 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\u2019ve come back now at the same time,\u201d the ex-fly-half said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe 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\u2019s nothing that can match the competitiveness of these four teams, who are traditionally, conservatively in the top six of the world and that\u2019s where they historically live.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019d be an absolute tragedy now after finally getting those two teams back to the Boks and All Blacks level to do away with it.\u201d<\/p>\n New Zealand controversially block bold Rugby Championship shift as Australia tables Six Nations alignment \u2013 report<\/a><\/p>\n