'Something has to change' - Lenihan backs new format

Donal Lenihan has given his stamp of approval to a proposed Nations Championship that would establish a more aligned season between the two hemispheres.

The format would have a top division of 12 teams, consisting of six each from the northern and southern hemispheres, who would compete in the summer and autumn windows culminating in a grand final.

A second tier would consist of emerging nations with a play-off offering the opportunity to secure a place amongst the heavyweights.

World Rugby would have to sign off on the idea at an executive meeting in November but all stakeholders are meeting in Dublin this week where it's hoped an agreement in principle can be reached.

"They are looking to generate more revenue," the former Munster, Ireland and Lions lock told the RTÉ Rugby podcast.

"Australia and New Zealand are struggling to survive and international rugby needs the All Blacks at their best and Australia to be competitive.

"Then you have that middle tier, Japan, who beat Scotland and Ireland at the last World Cup, and South Africa in the 2015 World Cup. Therefore, you are going to have to get meaningful competition for them.

"You’ve got to have incentives for Japan, for Fiji, for Samoa to bring them up to a level."

"It brings more meaning to the summer tours: in effect, this Nations Championship, would be played in non-Lions and non-World Cup years, and let’s say this year Ireland are playing three Tests in New Zealand.

"Instead of that they would play Tests against New Zealand, Australia and Japan in this competition. Then in the autumn block they would play against South Africa, Argentina and Fiji and on to a final or a play-off.

"Something has to change in the rugby calendar. The big carrot is they reckon it will generate