Menu
Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
New posts
Latest activity
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles and first posts only
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Help Support The Rugby Forum :
Forums
Rugby Union
General Rugby Union
Future of the "rugby's minnows"
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="BokMagic" data-source="post: 148071"><p>Greetings Lado, and welcome to TRF. Loving your signature, by the way :lol: !</p><p></p><p>To answer your question, well I think that if there`s one area where the IRB has failed, it`s been to take a more active role in growing the game in the "minnow" unions. Sure, the RWC concept in itself has been a great showcase for all the countries, and we`ve seen some nations making great progress as a result. But the awarding of the RWC for 2011 to one of the established nations, instead of Japan, was a huge step backwards IMO.</p><p></p><p>Right, how do I see the "minnows" performing in 2011? Well, Italy was also a so-called "minnow" not too long ago. But due to some support from the IRB, they`ve now become a legitimate top 10 nation. Also, as recently as maybe less than 10 years ago, Argentina was also considered a "minnow", and now they are definate SF contenders, and a top 4 team on the IRB ratings. So it can be done. And from what I`ve seen from especially Georgia and Romania, those 2 teams might soon, within the next 5-10 years, also join the top 12 or so nations. From where a QF spot is not too difficult to imagine.</p><p></p><p>Sadly for countries like Tonga and Namibia, they are just too small to make a real impact in the future. If Tonga can join forces with the other 2 PI teams, well then I can see a definite SF contender as early as 2011 already, but on their own, the numbers are just not there.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="BokMagic, post: 148071"] Greetings Lado, and welcome to TRF. Loving your signature, by the way :lol: ! To answer your question, well I think that if there`s one area where the IRB has failed, it`s been to take a more active role in growing the game in the "minnow" unions. Sure, the RWC concept in itself has been a great showcase for all the countries, and we`ve seen some nations making great progress as a result. But the awarding of the RWC for 2011 to one of the established nations, instead of Japan, was a huge step backwards IMO. Right, how do I see the "minnows" performing in 2011? Well, Italy was also a so-called "minnow" not too long ago. But due to some support from the IRB, they`ve now become a legitimate top 10 nation. Also, as recently as maybe less than 10 years ago, Argentina was also considered a "minnow", and now they are definate SF contenders, and a top 4 team on the IRB ratings. So it can be done. And from what I`ve seen from especially Georgia and Romania, those 2 teams might soon, within the next 5-10 years, also join the top 12 or so nations. From where a QF spot is not too difficult to imagine. Sadly for countries like Tonga and Namibia, they are just too small to make a real impact in the future. If Tonga can join forces with the other 2 PI teams, well then I can see a definite SF contender as early as 2011 already, but on their own, the numbers are just not there. [/QUOTE]
Verification
Post reply
Forums
Rugby Union
General Rugby Union
Future of the "rugby's minnows"
Top