A revolution is set to sweep over rugby football in the next decade.

Driven by commercial demands and the need to finance an increasingly expensive professional game, the face of rugby football will be changed irrevocably.

For the old diehards, it’s time to look away now.

The sport of cricket is showing rugby union what is possible and what will be needed to attract the money from sponsors to make the sport pay its way. Plans are already under way to dismantle the holy of holies - the hours in the day when Test cricket is played.

Hitherto, with the occasional minor exception, it has been from 11am to 6pm, worldwide. But now, Australia is calling for the day’s play to begin later, at 2pm, and run through to 9pm. There is a very good reason for this.

Crowds for evening matches have been astonishingly strong. It is clear that the idea of finishing work and popping along for four or so hours of cricket, with a few beers and a meal, has really taken off in most parts of the world.

So far, only 20/20 matches have really catered for this audience but already, cricket’s bosses can see the potential of this.
How might rugby attract a whole new market in such a way? Perhaps by the introduction of a Super 10s series of international matches.

What it would mean is that countries embarking upon end of season tours would travel earlier, take a specialist squad of players and play a series of games, 10 a side, against other opponents playing at that time in that particular part of the world.

For example, in October/November in the northern hemisphere, Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales would between them host South Africa, New Zealand and Australia.

On some midweek nights, those countries might play a Super 10s match against their hosts, say England v Australia, or two of the touring countries, for example South Africa and New Zealand would meet under the same format.

Anyone with the faintest inkling of the vast numbers of Kiwis and South Africans currently living in London would know that you’d get a terrific Wednesday night crowd anywhere within reach of Central London, for such a match.

In the case of Ireland, to get really big attendances in Dublin, you might need to stage Poland against the Czech Republic. But that’s another story.

Ah, you say, it’d work fine in the northern hemisphere. But what about in the southern hemisphere?

Simple, ensure New Zealand and Australia are in South Africa for Tri-Nations Tests at the same time as England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland and France could send their players for Super 10s games.

And if you’re talking about Sydney/Brisbane/Auckland or Christchurch as venues, it’s even easier with the flight time between Australia and New Zealand barely three hours.

Why Super 10s? So that it would be an outstanding spectacle, better than Sevens. You’d have every conventional position from scrum half to full-back covered, but with just three big forwards.

Tries would be plentiful, the attacking and running excellent entertainment. Matches would last 20 minutes each half with a 20 minute interval for re-fuelling. A total package of 60 minutes per match.

That way, you could have two international matches in a single evening. Imagine the numbers who would turn up at a London ground to see New Zealand v South Africa and Ireland v Wales. You would attract sponsors by the bucket load. Television would bite your hand off for it.

Problems? What of the weather? Have you heard of global warming? Winters are nowhere near as cold as they used to be. Besides, people turn out to see club matches at night. And what of player release by the clubs? Believe me, the clubs will do a deal if the compensation package is good enough. Everything in the brash, new world of rugby union revolves around finance. The issue of player release is no different.

It is ideas such as this which will drive the game of the future. Tighten your seat belts for take off. It’s going to be a spectacular ride.