The Pay-TV Golden Goose may be a turkey

So, the union have posted a multi-million-pound loss and expect to make another next year, while admitting they are seeing a decline in participation and will need a major restructuring in how the game is run.

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This is an attempt, hopefully, to bring increased support, sponsors, and participation back to the game.

The story sounds familiar; but this is not England and the RFU saying this; it’s the country that has won three World Cups and prides itself on the fact rugby is its national sport, New Zealand.

At a time when the worldwide game is coming finally to understand and accept what has been gradually happening since the dawn of leagues in rugby, the Six Nations unions are actually thinking of reducing mass media exposure of the game by potentially selling the TV rights for international rugby, Six Nations and Autumn games, for pay to view.

It may seem attractive to clubs that desperately need money from their union to help fund a league-based game. Most do not have a mass following and have been forced to cut costs by reducing the number of teams they field so as to invest in a ‘league worthy’ first team.

Professional rugby has added to the burden by driving up player and coaching costs, while an increased risk of injury at all levels is making it harder for the game to retain adult male players, and particularly among those who fail to make the professional-grade.

Unions across the world are struggling with decreasing numbers at the senior male level of the game, and funding the ever-increasing cost of the professional games’ (players, coaches and administrators) wages.

As a result, they will virtually agree to almost anything that promises what seems a substantial amount of money in the short term.