Should the 6 Nations be expanded to become the 8 Nations?

First topic message reminder :

I've long held the view that the arguments around promotion/relegation too and from the 6 Nations are a Red Herring and that what should actually happen is that the two rest weeks should be given over to including Georgia and Romania.

The main argument against would be player welfare, specifically in terms of the number of games our top players are required to play. There are ways around this especially for the better sides to use the opportunities the games provide to develop their coming players.

Ofcourse the clubs would be against further expansion of the international game, however since Italy's inclusion we have failed to provide the development opportunity for the lesser nations and so they go from World cup to World cup with little or no real progress being made. Anyway I am certain the clubs could be paid off from the extra gate receipts and media contracts.

The positives would be huge for the international game in Europe and the northern hemisphere as a whole. Obviously it would offer Georgia and Romania a pathway to expand, promote and develop their games. Regular competition is a must if they are to be able to challenge the status quo in the future.

As for the fans it would be fantastic to travel to the games and even if this was not an option it would enable more fans the chance to attend games at either Twickerham, Paris, Dublin, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Rome.

It is now 20 years since the game became officially open/professional and as far as I can see the opportunities for expansion and development beyond the historic structures must be realised. I believe European Rugby should take the step.

http://www.worldrugby.org/rankings

I know we've just all just experienced an almost unique competiton experince so I can understand how we all are still wearing our nationalist tin hats, but really, seriously, step back, have a look around you.

That fact is that the game of rugby union is changing, its progressing, it has opportunities ahead of it, and I believe right now, that must be explored and must not be lost. If we fail to develop the game internationally now, if we fail to show leadership in the expansion and development of existing competitions, if we fail in these challenges then how will we and those ahead of us look back at those lost opportunities?

The Olympic 7's are ahead of us, the development of Japanease and North American rugby is there to be grasped (world cups 2019 & 2027?) so its time everyone opened their eyes to realise Rugby is no longer the 'empire game' but is truely a developing world game.

Ireland playing Georgia isn't going to make a difference, they need to be playing teams closer to their ability like Italy, Scotland, Fiji, Tonga or Samoa, games that they can win against the more established rugby nations.

When it comes to the Autumn internationals; England, Ireland and Wales should be playing South Africa, New Zealand and Australia, teams shouldn't be afforded the chance to rack up easy points against nations not in their class.

It keeps to the familiar pattern of 6 teams but offers a wider variety of fixtures.

8 nations makes no sense and it would kill club rugby, but, 2 leagues of 5 would work with bonus points thrown in to get more games like we had last weekend…..Wales, Ireland, France and England with Italy and Scotland battling over relegation, league 2 being Italy/Scotland, Georgia, Romania, Russia and A N Other.

Everything on this thread is backwards. The teams we need to help are Scotland/Italy. They are the teams with history, with a solid base of fans etc, and they are already in top level competition. Lets make them stronger, i literally do not understand the case for trying to make Georgia/Romania another Italy, when we already have an Italy that we should be working with to develop further?? Is it more, "Italy, ye had your shot, off with ye, Georgia is next?" And then if Georgia doesn't start becoming a mid-ranked 6 Nations team then what happens to them? Poor old Italy needs their chance again? Growing rugby does not start at international level, it starts at regional/club level. We were supposed to have some 3rd tier in the glorious new ECC, which everyone is being very quiet about. Lets see that. Also, let's see some investment at grass roots level in a couple of well chosen 2nd/ 3rd tier countries, and see what they can develop, lets see one of them get out of a RWC group, as Argentina did, and were duly awarded for. And finally, lets see everyone in Europe band together to help Italy and Scotland create 3rd and 4th teams for Europe/Rabo. Even England/France, come on, those of ye who want to develop the game, there are more potential fans who don't know anything about rugby right now in Italy/Scotland then nearly all of the countries being talked about combined. What is the plan for Italy/Scotland?

wolfball wrote:Everything on this thread is backwards. The teams we need to help are Scotland/Italy. They are the teams with history, with a solid base of fans etc, and they are already in top level competition. Lets make them stronger, i literally do not understand the case for trying to make Georgia/Romania another Italy, when we already have an Italy that we should be working with to develop further?? Is it more, "Italy, ye had your shot, off with ye, Georgia is next?" And then if Georgia doesn't start becoming a mid-ranked 6 Nations team then what happens to them? Poor old Italy needs their chance again? Growing rugby does not start at international level, it starts at regional/club level. We were supposed to have some 3rd tier in the glorious new ECC, which everyone is being very quiet about. Lets see that. Also, let's see some investment at grass roots level in a couple of well chosen 2nd/ 3rd tier countries, and see what they can develop, lets see one of them get out of a RWC group, as Argentina did, and were duly awarded for. And finally, lets see everyone in Europe band together to help Italy and Scotland create 3rd and 4th teams for Europe/Rabo. Even England/France, come on, those of ye who want to develop the game, there are more potential fans who don't know anything about rugby right now in Italy/Scotland then nearly all of the countries being talked about combined. What is the plan for Italy/Scotland?

Yes the game in Scotland and Italy could be stronger, however the international structures and opportunities are already in place for these two nations to progress and succeed. Scotalnd regularly beat RSA and Australia, and Italy are developing well, though ofcourse some more results would always be nice.

The fact that Georgia and Romania are denied these opportunities does not mean they should be taken away from Scotand or Italy. No instead they should be extended and all nations would benefit from the expanded competition.

There honestly isn't room to expand the tournament and the French and English clubs would never allow anymore expansion.
I do think the 6 Nations "A" teams should be forced into touring a ^ Nations B team or even touring several countries in the summer, for example while Wales toured South Africa last year and played 3 games the A team could of played games against Portugal and Spain to help them along.
Failing that we could invite them to tour us in November and play club teams. The November international series is 4 weeks long so having say a 3 week tour wouldn't hurt to much. Spain could tour the Ospreys region, playing Bridgend, and Aberavon on consecutive Wednesdays then the Ospreys themselves on the third Wednesday.