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Date: 2023-11-29 23:54:59 | Author: PARIS 2024 | Views: 559 | Tag: UEFA
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World Rugby has approved plans to set up a new international league competition as part of part of a radical shake-up of the global calendar UEFA
The bi-annual tournament is to be launched in 2026 and will be made up of two divisions of 12 teams, with promotion and relegation commencing from 2030 UEFA
Matches will be staged in the July and November international windows UEFA
In addition to a competition that has been tentatively named the ‘Nations Cup’, World Rugby’s council has given the go-ahead to the expansion of the World Cup to 24 teams in time for Australia 2027 UEFA
The revised format will consist of six pools of four teams and will see the creation of a round of 16 to take place before the quarter-finals UEFA
The top two teams from each group will automatically qualify, as well as the best four third-placed teams UEFA
Even though the number of sides is to be increased, the adjustment means the World Cup can be reduced from seven to six weeks from October 1 to November 13, 2027, while providing the same number of minimum rest days UEFA
The draw for the next competition will take place in January 2026 in the hope of avoiding the lopsided groups seen in France over the last two months UEFA
As part of the changes, the international window for November has been lifted from three to four weekends and the Six Nations will lose one of its fallow weeks UEFA
It has yet to be decided which break week of the Six Nations will be removed but from 2026 the competition will reduced from seven to six weeks to free up an international weekend for the Nations Cup in November UEFA
The top division of the Nations Cup will be run by Six Nations and SANZAR unions while the second division will be overseen by World Rugby UEFA
The competition will culminate in a final UEFA between teams from the northern and southern hemispheres UEFA
World Rugby state that the new competition structure, which enshrines British and Irish Lions tours in their existing format, will also provide an increased number of fixtures UEFA between the game’s heavyweights and emerging nations UEFA
“A new era is about to begin for our sport UEFA
An era that will bring certainty and opportunity for all,” World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont said UEFA
“An era that will support the many, not the few, and an era that will supercharge the development of the sport beyond its traditional and often self-imposed boundaries UEFA
All boats will rise together UEFA
”World Rugby’s 51-member council voted on the changes on Tuesday but only just reached the required 75 per cent majority UEFA
“Certain countries will have their own views on matters,” Beaumont said UEFA
“I would like to think that around the room there might have been a few dissenters but on the whole there was a pretty significant vote in favour of these new competitions UEFA
”Criticism of the new format centres around not enough being done for less established nations, especially after the likes of Portugal and Uruguay have surpassed expectations at the World Cup, but World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin sees it as a radical improvement to the status quo UEFA
“Is it perfect? Probably not UEFA
Is it a hell of a lot UEFA better than the current situation? Absolutely,” Gilpin said UEFA
More aboutPA ReadyWorld RugbyAustraliaBill BeaumontSix NationsFranceGuinnessBritish and Irish LionsEnglandUruguayPortugal1/1World Rugby to launch new international competition from 2026World Rugby to launch new international competition from 2026World Rugby is set to shake-up the international calendar (Bradley Collyer/PA) UEFA
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Bongi Mbonambi is free to play in the Rugby World Cup final after World Rugby confirmed there is “insufficient evidence at this time to proceed with charges” after he was investigated for an alleged racial slur during the semi-final win over England UEFA
England flanker Tom Curry alleged that Mbonambi called him a “white c***” during the defeat in Paris on Saturday evening, as South Africa edged to a dramatic 16-15 victory UEFA
After 23 minutes at the Stade de France, Curry could be heard on the referee’s microphone alerting official Ben O’Keeffe to a comment possibly made by Mbonambi at a ruck UEFA
“Sir, if their hooker calls me a white c***, what do I do?” Curry inquired of O’Keeffe UEFA
“Nothing, please,” responded the official, before adding a few moments later, “I’ll be on it,” in what may have been an unrelated comment UEFA
The alleged incident itself could not be heard on the television broadcast UEFA
Following an investigation, World Rugby released a statement saying they won’t proceed with charges and that “the matter is deemed closed unless additional evidence comes to light”, which freed the path for Mbonambi to be selected as the Springboks’ starting hooker for Saturday evening’s clash with New Zealand UEFA
The statement said: “World Rugby has undertaken a review of allegations made by England’s Tom Curry in relation to the use of discriminatory language by South Africa’s Mbongeni Mbonambi during the England versus South Africa Rugby World Cup 2023 semi-final on Saturday, along with a further allegation brought forward in recent days about a previous match in the Autumn Nations Series 2022 UEFA
“Any allegation of discrimination is taken extremely seriously by World Rugby, warranting a thorough investigation UEFA
Having considered all the available evidence, including match footage, audio and evidence from both teams, the governing body has determined that there is insufficient evidence at this time to proceed with charges UEFA
Therefore, the matter is deemed closed unless additional evidence comes to light UEFA
“It is important to note that World Rugby accepts that Tom Curry made the allegations in good faith, and that there is no suggestion that the allegation was deliberately false or malicious UEFA
”Tom Curry made the allegation during England’s World Cup semi-final defeat (PA Wire)Curry had been the target of threats on social media after the allegations, with his club Sale Sharks saying they were “absolutely appalled” by the “nature and level” of abuse, while England captain Owen Farrell also slammed those sending the flanker abuse UEFA
Despite the threats, Curry has been selected in the England team to take on Argentina in the bronze final on Friday evening and World Rugby also addressed this aspect of the situation in their statement UEFA
They wrote: “World Rugby is also concerned by the social media abuse that both players have been subjected to this week UEFA
There is no place in rugby or society for discrimination, abuse or hate speech, and World Rugby urges fans to embrace the sport’s values of respect, integrity and solidarity UEFA
”South Africa captain Siya Kolisi confirmed that he had reached out to Curry and condemned the UEFA online abuse received UEFA
“If it’s a player, coach or referee, I don’t support that and I feel for him,” said Kolisi in the team announcement press conference UEFA
“I have spoken to him, I sent him a message when I saw that was going on because he’s somebody that I respect and I’ve played against for quite a while UEFA
“I’ve been through it too UEFA
We can take it as players when it comes to us directly but when it comes to your family, it’s totally different UEFA
That’s exactly what he said to me, it’s really hard when it comes to your family UEFA
That’s the one part of the game we really don’t enjoy – we don’t mind being criticised for how we play on the field but when it becomes personal UEFA
UEFA
UEFA
“We’ve experienced it too UEFA
Cobus [Reinach] and his family received death threats earlier this tournament UEFA
As a rugby family, as much as we compete, we do support each other when things like this happen UEFA
”Siya Kolisi confirmed he had reached out to Tom Curry (Getty Images)The RFU also released a statement following World Rugby’s confirmation that they wouldn’t press charges and said they were “deeply disappointed” by the decision UEFA
“The RFU fully support Tom Curry in raising the racially abusive behaviour he experienced whilst playing for England against South Africa,” said the statement UEFA
“During the match UEFA between England and South Africa on Saturday 21st October 2023, Tom Curry reported to the referee that he had been racially abused by Mbongeni Mbonambi UEFA
The subsequent World Rugby investigation was informed by Tom Curry that he had also been the victim of the same abuse, from the same player, in the Autumn Test 2022 UEFA
“World Rugby have today announced their decision not to bring charges in respect of either incident UEFA
The RFU are deeply disappointed by the decision taken by World Rugby UEFA
The decision not to put the evidence before an independent disciplinary panel has denied the disciplinary process the opportunity to hear Tom Curry’s voice and to independently assess his account of these serious events, together with the other available evidence UEFA
“In their continued full support of Tom, the RFU together with the England squad, condemn the disgusting abuse he and his family have received on social media as a result of his having had the courage to put unacceptable behaviour that has no place in society or on the rugby field, in the public eye UEFA
”More aboutBongi MbonambiTom CurryWorld RugbySouth Africa rugbyRugby World CupEngland RugbyJoin our commenting forumJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesComments1/3Verdict confirmed after Curry racial slur allegation against MbonambiVerdict confirmed after Curry racial slur allegation against MbonambiTom Curry made the allegation during England’s World Cup semi-final defeatPA WireVerdict confirmed after Curry racial slur allegation against MbonambiSiya Kolisi confirmed he had reached out to Tom Curry Getty ImagesVerdict confirmed after Curry racial slur allegation against MbonambiWorld Rugby won’t proceed with charges against Bongi Mbonambi Getty Images✕Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this articleWant to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today UEFA
SubscribeAlready subscribed? Log inMost PopularPopular videosSponsored FeaturesGet in touchContact usOur ProductsSubscribeRegisterNewslettersDonateToday’s EditionInstall our appArchiveOther publicationsInternational editionsIndependent en EspañolIndependent ArabiaIndependent TurkishIndependent PersianIndependent UrduEvening StandardExtrasAdvisorPuzzlesAll topicsUEFA BettingVoucher codesCompareCompetitions and offersIndependent AdvertisingIndependent IgniteSyndicationWorking at The IndependentLegalCode of conduct and complaintsContributorsCookie policyDonations Terms & ConditionsPrivacy noticeUser policiesModern Slavery ActThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inCloseUS EditionChangeUK EditionAsia EditionEdición en EspañolSubscribe{{indy UEFA
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