The latest in a series of game overviews to give you the ins and outs of the available games in place for this season’s Autumn Nations Series.
Currently there is one game in place, the Offical Autumn Nations Series game. If any new games pop up, please let us know at fantasyrugbygeek@gmail.com or @frugbygeek on Twitter.
This is an extract from FANTASY RUGBY GEEK’S GUIDE TO THE GAME that was originally posted on the Official Autumn Nations Series website, you can head to the link here for the full post…
A quick overview of the core rules of the game (which will be very familiar if you played the Men’s or Women’s Six Nations game): You have a budget of 240 stars to build a squad of 15 starters and 1 bench player. One crucial point to flag is that in this game you will only be able to select players from the Guinness Men’s Six Nations (England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales). Although the Six Nations will be playing against teams such as New Zealand, South Africa, Australia and Fiji, the only players scoring points in this fantasy game are those from the Six Nations.
Each player has a different price (based on the player’s reputation and likely performance in the game), so you need to manage your budget wisely and work to identify value players. Your team must consist of 3 back-three players, 2 centres, 1 fly-half, 1 scrum-half, 3 back rows, 2 second rows, 2 props, and 1 hooker; while your bench player can be from any position. It is important to note that you can only select a maximum of 8 players from the same country. The auto-pick function is available if you want a quick team before tinkering.
The fantasy game will run over 4 rounds. This will start with Week 0, which will consist of two matches, England v New Zealand and Scotland v Fiji both on Saturday 2nd November. Weeks 1 to 3 will then follow with six matches each week at which the game will conclude.
The final match of the Autumn Nations Series on Saturday 30th November (Week 4), Ireland v Australia, will not be considered for scoring in the fantasy game.
You will also need to be careful if you have players prone to disciplinary issues, as there are points deductions in place for conceded penalties (-1 pt), yellow cards (-5 pts), and red cards (-8 pts).
There are a couple of new scoring metrics for the 2024 Autumn Nations Series game. Firstly, an offload to hand is worth 2 points (the player will receive this if their supporting player is able to successfully catch the ball directly). In addition, all the teams’ forwards on the pitch will get a point each when they win their own scrum. Finally, there is a massive 15 points on offer for the Official Player of the Match, so choose carefully.
Here are five essential tips to help you set up your team and give yourself the best chance of success from the get-go:
1) First and foremost, it’s vital that you don’t finalise your team until all the official starting lineups are announced. Drafting and playing around with potential lineups ahead of the tournament is definitely a good idea, as it helps you familiarise yourself with the player pool and their prices. But don’t lock in your final selections until you have confirmation of who’s starting and who’s on the bench. Icons next to each player will tell you their status—whether they’re a starter, a sub, or not even in the matchday squad. Keep an eye on this, and remember that injuries can happen between the lineup announcements and kick-off, so stay vigilant and be ready to make last-minute changes if needed.
2) Next, don’t be afraid to go all out with transfers. Autumn Nations Series Fantasy Rugby 2024 allows unlimited transfers between rounds, with no points penalties. This gives you the freedom to fully optimise your team for each round—so if you feel like making 15 changes in one go, just go ahead!
3) Since ANS Fantasy Rugby 2024 operates under a salary cap system, managing your budget carefully is key. A crucial thing to note is that player values fluctuate throughout the tournament based on their popularity. You can increase your team’s overall value as the tournament progresses. This can be particularly helpful in the final stages, so be smart with your transfers. If you suspect a player’s value is going to drop—whether due to injury or a loss of form—don’t hesitate to trade them out and capitalise on rising player values. Play the market: each player’s value adjusts based on their real-world performance, so you’ll either gain or lose based on your decisions.
4) When it comes to kickers, this game doesn’t limit you to selecting one designated kicker to score points from penalties, conversions, or drop goals. So, if you can find players outside the usual kicking positions (Thomas Ramos for example), they can be extremely valuable as they’ll rack up kicking points in addition to their usual contributions.
5) Finally, develop a solid strategy for your Supersub, as it can be a game-changer when played well. There’s often an element of luck, like when a starting player gets injured early, but you could also be unlucky if a coach decides to leave certain players on the bench for the entire game. Consider the risks and make informed choices.
To read more (to learn about the great prizes on offer, the social aspects and some extra tips around the supersub) head on over to the Autumn Nations Series website for FANTASY RUGBY GEEK’S GUIDE TO THE GAME.
Autumn Nations Series 2024 -> Join the FRG league!
With the 2024 Autumn Nations Series just around the corner, make sure you join the FRG league which is now live on the Official Six Nations ANS game. You can sign up to the game here, join the FRG league here and also learn some more about the game and the scoring tweaks for this year’s tournament here!
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