Georgia pushing for 6 Nations spot

[RugbyPUBtbilisi]

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Head of WRU on Six Nations.

"There's a Six Nations council meeting at the end of this month and this isn't to fuel speculation, it is an annual review of where the Six Nations sits.

"So is it worth considering moving it? Do we look at bonus points, which is something that people have asked for to make it more exciting, scoring tries etc?

"Do we look at 'is it a closed shop for Six Nations?' Do we open the gates to Georgia, Romania or anybody else who is deemed worthy and is capable of being in there?

"So all those are up for grabs really. "

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/36799343

Obviously there is a sense that the appointment of Beaumont has removed any pressure on the 6 Nations to expand, but good on the head of the Welsh RFU for at least mentioning it as something that should be considered as part of any revamp of the calendar.

Personally, I'd give Italy (and their Pro-12 clubs) a couple more years to raise their game (with an ultimatum to them in private that if they don't, the prospect of relegation and losing a European club spot becomes more likely). Italy are a potentially massive market, get good attendances in the 6N and are a popular destination for travelling fans.

If nothing else, the topic being mentioned by an individual in a position of influence and power in the Northern Hemisphere rugby must surely raise the pressure to provide more regular contests between Georgia and Romania with the poorer 6N teams (as per Georgia's visit to Scotland this November).

What would really help the case of expansion is if a team from a larger economy and potential TV audience (e.g. Russia, Spain or Germany) made significant progress. That would likely be more tempting to the 6N organisers and nations and may open the door, and once opened that could be the opportunity for others for an 8 Nations (of two pools, then playoffs) or for two divisions with less financial drop off for the relegated nation. But I think we are at least a decade away from any possibility of that.

Regardless, it will be interesting to hear of any outcome of this 6N review at the end of July.