Does Cricket have the answer?

I never thought I'd say or think this, but I think that Cricket may just have the answer for Rugby.

Rugby has this huge talent drain going on with All Blacks being snapped up like New Zealand's dairy and vino exports meaning we are in danger of being left with the proverbial dregs. But the new IPL 20/20 competition may have provided a template for the way forward.

We shouldn't fight players being able to go and make stupid amounts of money - so why not create an annual window where players can go and let their hair down and play footy in competition which, lets face it, doesn't matter but provides entertainment.

This would provide the entertainment element that the TV companies want, bring in the dosh as people will want to watch it while also allowing the players to cash in (like Brendan McCullum etc) and take the shackles and pressure off of the Super 14/Test rugby.

Essentially I would split the year into three windows - November-January run the private 20/20 competition up in Europe (or any other cash-cow location!) then mid March to late June run the Super 14 in the South and Heineken Cup in the North and then the final window - July-October will provide time for Test rugby - with proper tours each year as well as the Bledisloe. The Tri-Nations should be moved to be a biannual tournament running around the World Cup.

The World Cup would fit into September/October of the Test window every four years - and it should be cut down in terms of time - there is no reason why teams can't play mid week games, its ridiculous and just drags the whole thing out to the point that it just gets boring.

So basically what I'm saying is - bollocks to the tradition of provincial rugby - its time to think outside the square and actually try to breath life into a sport that looks like its on its last legs.