Fairly certain all international matches are going to get larger international television exposure as well as money (thus the reason Teh Mite calls it cash spinning). That money however goes to the RFU, WRU etc, at least in terms of attendance. With that money - more money is put into developing the grass roots etc. Considering Welsh teams rely soley on the WRU - who generate more money from international tests than Scarlets games (indeed the 15,000 seat stadiums, which if packed still fall 60,000 short of Millennium Stadium) have little to really complain about. That is unless you think the Scarlet's (and other Welsh clubs) could surive without WRU hand outs.
I agree there should be a clear international window. What matches aren't within the window? In terms of growing the game globally - I feel that's a massive cop out claiming that's the role of clubs. For starters, the November international window is one of the few chances tier 2 nations get the chance to tour and play tier 1 opposition. How would England NOT playing Fiji be good for the growth of the game? Or France v Samoa? Or Scotland v Tonga. In fact, this terrible injustice to clubs is one of the few times teir 2 teams are at all able to field their best teams. But I suppose the expansion of the game is best limited to the select few countries which can afford a professional league.
What i meant was the domestic rugby season has the greatest room for growth. International rugby at the top level as i said has reached saturation point.
Welsh regions are privately owned, the WRU helps out. I don't think the regions could survive without their handouts, but at the same time i don't think they should be completely undermined by team Wales and the WRU all the time. That's one of the main reasons why no one supports them. The future of Welsh rugby needs a strong club/regional scene which is respected by the WRU.
The test window is from Nov 3rd to the 25th. England v New Zealand and Wales v Australia are on the 1st of December, both on the same day as the World Cup seeding draw!
Have a look at this article to see what's going on behind the scenes.
http://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/index.php/featured-post/all-blacks-get-1-5m-fee-to-face-england/
I didn't claim that growing the game globally was the role of the clubs.
What i meant was that it is where the globalisation of rugby will naturally come from. That is where the players will come from and that is how the game will gain exposure.
Not the same international tours and tournaments every year, not the closed shop old boys club for the top nations.
More pro leagues and more players from emerging nations playing in other pro leagues is exactly what the game needs to grow, so that they don't get blocked from playing internationally.
Look at the tier 2 nations now.
It is extremely difficult for a foreign player to get a contract at a European club, nigh on imposible in super rugby. For EU member citizens, Islanders and Saffas (not tier 2 i know) it is easier but still difficult. If they do it's usually under terms that they don't play many tests a year, and understandably so to be honest putting myself in the shoes of the clubs/regions. With France and England now tightening restrictions on foreign players, you will probably see even less in the future. These nations will have less players playing a good standard of rugby.
