Is it time for the Six Nations to be expanded into a two-tier competition?
BY DAMIAN CORBET


The current structure of the Six Nations is holding back the Tier Two European rugby nations. As the Rugby World Cup showed, there is still a significant (but narrowing) gap between the leading rugby nations and the rest. In Europe this gap is narrowing even faster than in the rest of the world, with countries like Georgia knocking on the door of top tier rugby. For the moment, however, that door is firmly locked to them. They can knock all they like – they’re not getting in.

Georgia plays in the European Nations Cup, sometimes dubbed the 'Six Nations Two', but how many people have ever heard of it? It has seven divisions, with promotion and relegation from each, but Division 1A is the highest any country can progress. This means teams like Georgia, Romania and Russia, all of which have great potential, are effectively being prevented from playing at the very top level of European rugby.

Georgia gets some big crowds at its home games – 65,000 people watched them beat Russia at national stadium in Tbilisi a few years ago. That’s bigger than many crowds in the Six Nations. So, I think it’s time everyone accepts that Georgia is no rugby minnow any more. However, with the current Six Nations set-up, Georgia has no way of progressing to a higher level and getting regular (that word is important) game time with the 'big boys' (apart from the World Cup every four years). I think this is a travesty and condemns Georgia to permanent 2nd class status in the rugby world, something it doesn’t deserve.

Rather than being held back, Tier Two European countries need all the help they can get to improve. As they currently have no way of progressing up the international rankings, the sport will never gain mass popularity – especially in the lower ranked nations like Spain and Portugal. It's a basic fact that success breeds success, but this will never come if these countries are ignored by the IRB. I for one would relish the prospect of new countries appearing on the European rugby itinerary.

Perhaps ‘established’ rugby nations like Scotland feel they have a God-given right to be in the top tier. They don’t. All countries have the right to be there on merit, nothing else. If Georgia is good enough to beat Scotland or Italy and relegate them, well, good luck to Georgia. Scotland and Italy will just have to try harder. Isn't that what competition is all about? It's certainly what European rugby needs if it's going to improve.

It’s all about a level playing field.