KEY POINTS:
The IRB is to discuss the idea of a world provincial championship at its executive board meeting in Auckland next week.
The Championship is mooted to be staged every three years in the November test window, with suggestions it would involve the top six teams from the Super 14 and its European equivalent the Heineken Cup.
Sky UK commentator Miles Harrison believes rugby fans would take a great interest, and as a fan himself he can see the merits, but the logistics are a different problem.
Harrison says he would love to see how the likes of Munster or Biarritz stack up to the Crusaders or Brumbies but the major problem is finding a suitable time when all teams would be at full strength, and if they are not, then the concept will fall flat.
Harrison says it will be near impossible to make it work for either hemisphere and ultimately either the north or south will have to make a big compromise, but there would be massive financial benefits and he believes the idea will be popular in the northern hemisphere.
- NEWSTALK ZB
