Who will be the next nation to step up the grade ? , if any ever.

Big Ears

Well a couple of years ago Italy were added to the 5 nations , and the competiton was obviosuly changed to 6 nations . Who if any will be the one to make it a 7 nations , or if none , whose the next best European side .

and also , if the nations those expand , and expand by a good bit , will the competiton be changed to an every 2/4 years tournament ? .

Discuss .

KevIRL

Cant see any European side stepping up anytime soon. But I do think Argentina should be allowed to join the 6 nations.

Big Ears

KevIRL wrote:

Cant see any European side stepping up anytime soon. But I do think Argentina should be allowed to join the 6 nations.

Would it not make more sense them joining the tri-nations so as to play against other southern Hemisphere sides .

KevIRL

Big Ears wrote:

Would it not make more sense them joining the tri-nations so as to play against other southern Hemisphere sides .

Well they cant do that now for at least a few years as the tri-nations sides have closed off any expansion options until 2007 at the earliest I think. Argentina arent all *that* southern hemisphere anyway. If they did come into the 6 nations it would only make the northern hemisphere (including Ireland) stronger IMO

EDIT

The whole Argentina thing is discussed in another thread.

Going back on topic on this thread,

Romania a few years ago would have been a likely option for the 6 nations but alas they have crumbled. I would imagine we are talking 20+ years at the very least before any other European nation could make it even near to the minimum standard required for the 6 nations.

Nukem

There are some sides up and coming. Rugby is getting alot of press so such candidates as Georgia,Russia,Romania and Spain could be the next few teams.

Even Germany are starting to play Rugby

spanner

since Ceausescu was killed romania stopped growing in the rugby world

The Rooster

I think there should be a second division to the 6 Nations involving the European countries mentioned above. The top placed team each year would then playoff against the bottom team from the 6 Nations for the right to compete in the 6 Nations the following year.

That would give the "new" countries a real goal that could lead to big improvements.

Nukem

The Rooster wrote:

I think there should be a second division to the 6 Nations involving the European countries mentioned above. The top placed team each year would then playoff against the bottom team from the 6 Nations for the right to compete in the 6 Nations the following year.

That would give the "new" countries a real goal that could lead to big improvements.

You are not the ifrst to say that and i know you wont be the last.
Dead right you are. Would love to see another league come in

MG

There is currently a sort of second division with Georgia, Russia, Spain, Portugal, Czech republic and Romania. I think its called the FIRA AER but is commonly called the six nations "B".

There is no promotion to the real six nations but there is relegation and divisions below it. The prospect of even having a promotion/relegation play off between the AER winners and the 6N wooden spoonists is still a long way away.

daveirl

This post has been deleted.

Nukem

If that went ahead,as said would devistate the rugby in that country(Scotland)
But i would suggest running the "B 6 nations" for a few years before bringing in that rule about relegation.Give them a chance to bring up there standards.

EDIT: may i remind everyone that Italy hammered and i mean hammered Ireland away and at home no more than 6/7 years ago and they were amatuers and we were supposed to be better than them.