World 12s: New global rugby tournament to be launched next year

Organisers intend for 192 men’s players from tier one and tier two nations to be picked via auction to represent eight franchises

New Zealand’s 2015 World Cup winning coach Steve Hansen is an ambassador for World 12s

A new international competition called World 12s has been launched with the aim of enabling the best male and female players to compete annually around the world.

The inaugural men’s tournament, which will be contested by teams containing 12 players, will be staged in England next August with the women’s event taking place for the first time a year later.