Cricket has always been good at innovation when it puts its mind to it, and The Hundred has done something genuinely clever this season. For the first time, a combined trophy — the Helix, named by fans online — will be awarded to the franchise that accumulates the most points across both the men's and women's competitions. It's a brilliant concept that rewards parity and investment across both formats. Trent Rockets have already sewn up the inaugural prize, sitting on 60 points with a 16-point cushion over second-placed Sunrisers Leeds, having reached both finals. But what if other sports borrowed the idea? I've been crunching the numbers, and the outcomes are fascinating.
Football: Arsenal Pip Manchester City Despite WSL Disappointment
If the Premier League and Women's Super League were merged into a single combined points table for the 2025–26 season, Arsenal would emerge as England's top club. Despite Manchester City's women claiming the WSL title, it's the Gunners who edge ahead overall — their seven-point advantage over City in the men's Premier League proving the decisive factor, giving Arsenal a three-point buffer in the combined standings.
It's a reminder that dominance in one competition doesn't guarantee overall supremacy. Chelsea, despite a difficult tenth-place Premier League finish, actually climb to fourth in the combined table on the back of a third-place WSL finish — proof that a strong women's side can dramatically shift a club's standing. At the other end, West Ham prop up the table with just 58 combined points. From a betting perspective, this kind of dual-format format would fundamentally alter outright odds markets — clubs with strong investment in both squads would shorten considerably.
Rugby Union: France Dominate the Six Nations Combined Table
If the men's and women's Six Nations points were pooled together, France would stand alone at the summit. Les Bleus were formidable across both competitions in 2026, losing just twice in total and winning eight matches — accumulating 21 points apiece in each competition. That level of consistency across both programmes is extraordinary and reflects France's serious commitment to developing rugby at all levels.
England's women were flawless in their Six Nations campaign, but a solitary victory in the men's tournament dragged them down to second overall. It's a sobering illustration of how a combined format exposes gaps in programme depth. Wales, meanwhile, finish bottom with just 11 combined points after struggling at the foot of both tables — a tough reality check for a nation that prides itself on its rugby heritage.
Golf: A Transatlantic Thought Experiment
Golf presents the most complex scenario of the three, requiring points to be drawn from two separate competitions across two years to construct any meaningful combined Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup picture. It's a logistical puzzle, but the concept still holds genuine appeal — imagine the narrative of a combined European team chasing silverware across both events simultaneously. The sport's governing bodies might not be ready for it yet, but the conversation is worth having.
What Cricket Gets Right
What I love about The Hundred's Helix Trophy is the message it sends — that the women's game isn't an afterthought but an equal part of the competition's identity. Trent Rockets' triumph reflects genuine strength across both their squads, and that's exactly the kind of outcome cricket should be celebrating. If football, rugby and golf are watching, they'd do well to take note. A combined trophy doesn't just reward excellence — it incentivises investment where it's historically been lacking.
