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1 ) Fiji. McKee’s Flying Fijians side is primarily made up of Europe-based professionals, but the Drua players are all drawn from the largely amateur ranks who play “on island” in Fiji.
https://www.rugby.com.au/news/2018/0...drua-wallabies
So the Fiji Drua are already plenty strong already. Topped the NRC. Bring back a few of their marquee players from Europe with WSR money and with the carrot of a $1mil to win WSR, they will be real WSR trophy contenders.
2) Two Japanese sides.
Panasonic Wild Knights are unbeaten this year in the Japan Top League.
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/tag/pan...-wild-knights/
The game against the Force was a pre-season game for them, so if they are coming in WSR as expected, they will also be serious WSR trophy contenders.
Then a second Japanese team like Suntory, will equally as strong, as they beat Panasonic in the final last year.
3) Hong Kong were competitive against the Force, so again bolstered by some WSR funded marquee players will not be easy beats
4) Western Force will have to add a few marquee players to their own list next year, to be competitive with these 4 teams.
Looks the standard of rugby in the WSR will be a lot stronger NRC and right up there with Super.