“It is necessary to have it annually”, Aaron Cruden’s defense of Los Pumas for the continuity of the Rugby Championship

South Africa was consecrated in Rugby Championship in what could have been the last tournament as it is known, and the former All Blacks figure, Aaron Cruden, referred to the continuity of the competition. The best of rugby, on Disney+ Premium Plan.

The Rugby Championship will not take place in 2026 due to the tours that New Zealand and South Africa will carry out, although it would return in 2027 with a reduced format and for 2028 the date could change. Speaking on The Breakdown podcast, the former New Zealand scrum-half said the tours will need to be competitive to be successful, but questioned whether it would be possible to combine the tours and the Rugby Championship in the same year.

“I’m very excited about the tour, but if we think about it and get on the right path, it has to be top quality, and obviously in South Africa next year, we know it will be. When we travel to other countries, is the quality of the competition we expose our All Blacks to really up to the necessary level? It’s a complex issue.”said the former scrum-half.

Furthermore, due to the level of the Rugby Championship in recent years, where the four teams arrive with a chance to compete for the title until the last date, Cruden added: “It is difficult to argue against the level of competition of the Rugby Championship this year. If it continues to grow, I think it is necessary to have it annually. It is a question of where the tours can be included, and the authorities are trying to find a solution”.