Tier Two Nations will play 20 Tests in this year's November internationals, IRB invest £10.5m in tier two rugby...!

November fixtures for Tier Two teams

2 Nov: Japan v New Zealand at Chicabu Stadium, Tokyo
9 Nov: Scotland v Japan at Murrayfield, Edinburgh
9 Nov: Ireland v Samoa at Aviva Stadium, Dublin
9 Nov: Romania v Tonga in Bucharest
9 Nov: Portugal v Fiji in Lisbon
9 Nov: USA v Maori All Blacks at PPL Park, Philadelphia
9 Nov: Georgia v Canada in Tbilisi
9 Nov: Chile v Spain in Santiago
15 Nov: Brazil v Portugal in São Paulo
16 Nov: France v Tonga in Le Harve
16 Nov: Italy v Fiji in Cremona
16 Nov: Georgia v USA in Tbilisi
16 Nov: Romania v Canada in Bucharest
15 or 16 Nov: Russia v Japan at TBC
16 Nov: Uruguay v Spain in Montevideo
17 Nov: French Barbarians v Samoa in Clermont
22 Nov: Wales v Tonga at Millennium, Cardiff
23 Nov: Georgia v Samoa in Tbilisi
23 Nov: Romania v Fiji in Bucharest
22 or 23 Nov: Russia v USA at TBC
23 Nov: Portugal v Canada in Lisbon
23 Nov: Spain v Japan in Madrid

Tier two nations will play a record total of 20 Tests in this year's November internationals as the build-up to Rugby World Cup 2015 in England continues.

The strong programme is being financed and supported by the IRB, which invests more than £10.5 million each year in high-performance programmes and competitions for these teams.
Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Russia, USA, Canada, Romania, Japan, Uruguay, Portugal, Georgia, Chile, Brazil and Spain will all be in action, with the three Pacific Island teams and Japan once again facing tier one level opposition as they enter an important phase in the preparations for 2015.
With plenty of IRB World Rankings points at stake, the November schedule will see historic first-ever visits by Pacific Island Unions Samoa and Tonga to Georgia and Romania, respectively, as well as Portugal visiting Sao Paulo to take on Brazil for a first-ever Test match between the two sides.

Rugby World Cup 2019 hosts Japan will also build their development platform as they play New Zealand in Tokyo before travelling to Europe to play Scotland, Russia and Spain.

IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: "This is an exciting time for Rugby worldwide and thanks to the ongoing commercial success of Rugby World Cup, the IRB has been able to invest record sums in the Game."
"The November 2012 and June 2013 programmes have really showcased the tremendous competitive strides that Tier 2 Unions are making with Samoa defeating Wales, Scotland and Italy, Tonga defeating Scotland and Japan recording a first-ever victory over Wales. I am anticipating a truly captivating November series of matches."

It has already been an unprecedented year for Tier two Rugby nations, with an extensive June programme witnessing the expansion of the IRB Pacific Nations Cup to include USA and Canada. June also witnessed the launch of the IRB Tbilisi Cup in Georgia, where the hosts welcomed Uruguay and development sides from South Africa and Ireland.

The success of Rugby World Cup as a major global brand has provided the platform for the IRB to finance and deliver an unprecedented annual schedule of matches for tier two nations in the important June and November international windows.

"The November fixtures are playing a massive role in the development of Unions who have been identified by the IRB as part of a major Strategic Investment Programme," said Mark Egan, IRB Head of Competitions and Performance.

"These IRB World Ranking matches will enable coaches to assess players in a competitive environment, while giving the IRB the opportunity to benchmark the progress of the top ranked tier two Unions against both each other and, in some cases, against Tier One opposition.
"We are also looking at a number of Test options for Unions such as Namibia and hope to announce some additional November fixtures for our performance group of Unions in the near future."
The IRB also continues to invest in the now established and successful tournaments including the IRB Pacific Rugby Cup, IRB Pacific Nations Cup, Americas Rugby Championship, IRB Nations Cup as well as the IRB Tbilisi Cup.


http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3551_8867446,00.html

Good to see. Only issue i have is Spain and portugal play agame in south america and then one in europe.

Glad georgia and rominia are now getting games that they deserve to move onto the next level.

It's great news and to see so many Tier One sides taking part too.

maestegmafia wrote:It's great news and to see so many Tier One sides taking part too.

From what i can see japan is the only teir 2 playing a teir one that usually doesn't. Canada who are as good as Tonga and better then fiji get nothing.
It seems likd as Japan have money they can afford to pay teams to play them, because lets be honest NZ aren't lsying them for the betterment of rugby.

This is good to see...more countries getting more games and international exposure.
And some good match ups aswell.

Brendan Spain play Chile and Uruguay in S.America. I dont see a problem with it...we need that region to grow aswell...

Brendan,

France, Scotland, Italy, Ireland, New Zealand, Wales...whilst probably fielding more developmental sides...are Tier 1 sides.

As for Japan v New Zealand...and the financial side...well if it means that Japan can progress a little quicker, get more actual Japanese paying for them (as opposed to journeymen Aussies, Kiwis etc) then is that strictly a problem. More teams playing better rugby is what we all want...

GeordieFalcon wrote:Brendan,

France, Scotland, Italy, Ireland, New Zealand, Wales...whilst probably fielding more developmental sides...are Tier 1 sides.

As for Japan v New Zealand...and the financial side...well if it means that Japan can progress a little quicker, get more actual Japanese paying for them (as opposed to journeymen Aussies, Kiwis etc) then is that strictly a problem. More teams playing better rugby is what we all want...

It would be great to see the Top four ranked teams do a bit more to help the game worldwide. SA, Aus and the ABs do pretty much bugger all to help the progress of tier two nations.

It has to be said the South Africans have done more this summer inviting Samoa, Scotland and Italy to tour, though none of those are tier two nations. Samoa were hopefully rewarded well financially for their participation.

Well they possibly could do a little more, but they have been playing those teams recently...Samoa beat Australia etc.

Also the Maoris do alot of travelling...which is probably the right level for the tier two sides...

South Africa recently had that summer tournement aswell with Samoa invited...so they are doing their bit.

We need to keep a little common sense aswell...is there much point a full strength AB side playing USA...or Portugal. Nope nothing to be achieved or learned from a 100 point humping..

Things are moving nicely...just need a little patience.

Where are England in all of this? In SCWs day they would've played the lot and boasted their record run of success! What's happened to that strategy?

I'll definitely go see Spain vs Japan. Thanks for the heads up.

GE...do you have to try and spoil every thread?

GeordieFalcon wrote:Well they possibly could do a little more, but they have been playing those teams recently...Samoa beat Australia etc.

Also the Maoris do alot of travelling...which is probably the right level for the tier two sides...

South Africa recently had that summer tournement aswell with Samoa invited...so they are doing their bit.

We need to keep a little common sense aswell...is there much point a full strength AB side playing USA...or Portugal. Nope nothing to be achieved or learned from a 100 point humping..

Things are moving nicely...just need a little patience.

Actually well said regarding SA, there four way tournament was a great initiative.

The ABs Maori side is probably the right level but it is the ABs people want to see. Yes there is a huge difference in standards between the constant number 1 ranked side and those lower than the top ten, but even fielding a weakened side with just a few stars while playing minnow nations would surely attract crowds and hopefully wandering sports fans that have not witnessed the magic of rugby union before.

As you pointed out, Oz lost to Samoa. Maybe the top four Teams are too worried of losing ranking points to take a risk vs a decent tier two side?

GeordieFalcon wrote:This is good to see...more countries getting more games and international exposure.
And some good match ups aswell.

Brendan Spain play Chile and Uruguay in S.America. I dont see a problem with it...we need that region to grow aswell...

Spain must play two away games against weaker teams then have to fly back to play their thoughest team.  Saying that I asume that the former colonies would rather play their former masters.

Canda are as good as Tonga and should have won the Pacific Cup.  In the world cup they would have finished third ahead of Tonga and Japan but for france not trying against tonga (other then getting their try to get the lbp)
Yet since then who have they played while fiji play the 6N teams in the AIs.  Each team in the Pacific nations cup should get one game against a 6N team.

Wales v Samoa
England v Tonga
Scotland v Canada
Italy v Fiji
Ireland v Japan
France v USA

The other two/three games can be against the 4N teams.

I also think the PNC should also have to play the B6N

Georgia v Samoa
Rominia v Tonga
Russia v Canada
Spain v Fiji
Portugal v Japan
Belgium v USA

That leaves the top PNC teams a week to play 6N teams while the lower one can play the B6N for two games.  That would be progress.

Why should they play in the B6n?, when they already play in the Pacfic 6n?

Those spots should be used for other European sides to get gametime.

To be fair Samoa are a top teir team now.  They are not just having a golden generation.  So there are now 11 teir one nations.  After all they did beat the "best team  in the world on their day" in their own back yard and i think we were suprised how much better they were then Scotland and Italy.

After the next world cup i think Samoa will be added to the 4N as they are to good for the PNC.  It is hard to say who would win over two legs between them and Argientina.

Falcon i rate the tournaments like this and rankings would back it up

Div 1a SANZAR
Div 1b 6N &Samoa & Agries
Div 2a Pacific Nation cup
Div 2b B6N

Each team should have a right to play the division above them and a responsiblity to play the division below.
I would like to see the B6N have 6N B teams play them in the summer like the tiblisi cup and rominian cup.

Another step towards my dream of league-based 4Ns home/away competitions in each hemisphere?

Is it my imagination or is SA actually doing the most to build rugby of the top nations (excluding sending their players north to us)

They gave a place to a Puma club side in the division below S15.  The division below that they gave a spot to Namibia.

They play Namibia to help them prepare for world cups while the rest of us just play each other.

They sent a team to the Tiblisi cup which as was said isn't really their area.

I wonder with all the PI people who support their homeland though not born there could the div below S15 in NZ have a samoa team.  It also could be a way of getting Aus to have a level below S15.

In all honesty i think most teams are doing alot for the progression...its just a timely process that doesnt happen over night.

Remember the football when the Cameroon lad went running out of the wall during a freekick and hoofed the ball. He was clueless...but nowthey're a force in world football...but it took 30 years from that point.

Same with Rugby, it will take time, some teams progress a bit quicker. As youve mentioned Samoa seem to be really moving on...but only a few years ago they were weak and Fiji were flying.

Also ...look at Italy...its taken them a long time to really move on. Slowly the seeds are starting to show.

It helps having regular club involvment with the lower tier nations in the euro cups...and of course more players moving about...a few Russians playing in the English Prem now.

Next will be Georgia...Romania (who through the 80's were a powerhouse of a team)

Lots to look forward to...

GeordieFalcon wrote:GE...do you have to try and spoil every thread?

Interestingly you don't have an issue with the prior poster who suggested NZ aren't doing enough despite England not appearing in the list at all???

No because that wasnt meant at a bite, it was asking about what NZ do....and hence the repsonse well their Maori team or Saxons / Wolfhounds equivalent plays alot of games against the 2nd tier nations.....your comment was merely a dig at England..