Six Nations should have relegation, says Bernard Lapasset of World Rugby

Last updated on .From the section Welsh Rugbycomments183

Anton Peikrishvili of Georgia is tackled by Mihai Macovei of Romania during the FIRA-AER European Nations Cup Division 1A match between Georgia and Romania at the Mikheil Meskhi Stadium on March 15, 2014 in Tbilisi, Georgia
Georgia's Anton Peikrishvili is tackled by Mihai Macovei of Romania in 2014

Romania and Georgia should be given a chance to play in a revamped Six Nations, says outgoing World Rugby chairman Bernard Lapasset.

The Frenchman wants promotion and relegation to be introduced in the tournament - a suggestion backed by Romania's Welsh coach Lynn Howells.

"We need to change the format of the Six Nations championship," Lapasset told Le Figaro.

"This competition should open, either direct [promotion] or via a play-off."

A play-off would be between the team finishing bottom of the Six Nations and the winners of the second-tier European Nations Cup,external-link which Georgia won this year.

Howells, whose Romania team lost in a play-off to the Georgians, supports Lapasset's idea.

Bernard Lapasset
Bernard Lapasset succeeded Syd Millar as chairman of rugby's world governing body in 2007

"I think he's correct," said Howells, who was caretaker coach of Wales in 2001.

"Ninety percent of the implications that everybody is concerned about are finance. I think a play-off is probably the fair way to start it."

The Six Nations was established in 2000, when the Five Nations was expanded to include Italy.

Italy were whitewashed in this year's tournament - but Scotland, Wales and France have all finished bottom.

Lapasset, who will be replaced by England's Bill Beaumont as World Rugby chairman, said change was important to "give hopes for these teams".

Six nations graphic

Romania won one of their four World Cup pool games last year, and Howells believes his side can only progress if they face tier-one teams more often.

"Romania have been pretty consistent in getting to the World Cup and the only time we play against a tier-one nation is when we get there," he told BBC Radio Wales.

"The one thing you can see is that we are improving in the situation that we're in, but to take the next step we have to play consistently against these teams.

"The big problem is that these tier-one nations don't give you the opportunity to play against them."

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Howells says World Rugby is attempting to ensure Romania and Georgia get the same opportunities to face tier-one nations as the likes of Fiji, Tonga and Samoa.

Georgia will meet Scotland in November 2016 while Romania will face Italy in 2018.

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183 comments

  • Absolutely, they should have relegation via a playoff. 55000 people watched Georgia play Romania last month, and the sport is fast becoming the national game in each country. The 6 nations should embrace this and help the game grow through Europe. I feel for Italy, but they haven't shown any real growth, a few win every few years isn't good enough, give someone else a chance.

  • A play off makes sense. Not only is it an opportunity for the Tier 2 nations to step up, but it represents the chance of another weekend on the beer in a foreign country for us fans.

  • Love the 6 nations and can't bear to see it without us Scots so for this reason I am thoroughly against the idea! However I admit that the system is clearly unfair on the developing nations. First step for me would be to force the big nations to play against at least 1 developing nation in the summer and autumn, rather than NZ v Wales 3 times or ENG playing SA, AUS, NZ every single Autumn!

  • Would rather first see Romania, Georgia and Russia play autumn internationals first, that way they all get a chance to play the 6 nations teams rather than just one probably playing a single game against the last placed team, either add a fixture to the autumn series for each 6 nation team or do away with a southern hemisphere fixture replacing with games for those 3 teams.

  • For the record there is a 7-tier 37-team European Nations Cup already in existence outside our 6 Nations. The top sides in ENC should be playing tournaments with representatives of the Big 6 and not just in Sevens. An end of season event featuring 6 Nations development squads (e.g Saxons) and the top ENC Nations would do huge amounts for development. Euro 7s at Exeter last July was just brilliant.

  • You can have a similar debate about the pro 12 for the champions cup. At present it looks like Munster, Ospreys, Edinburgh and Cardiff are chasing 6th place, yet Zebre who are 11th and won 4 matches out of 19 are likely to be in Europe next year.
    If teams are given a kick up the backside (or no safety net) then they will start putting more effort in.

  • This is such an obvious idea and move, should have bee done ages ago. I have been advocating this ever since Italy came into the 6 nations. A play off seems the fairest way, then 6 nations teams cannot complain if they get dumped. Should be based on merit. How non 6 nations teams are ever going to progress without this I don't know. More interesting and Italy have no incentive to improve now.

  • Jeez z of 7, will you ever stop telling us how unpopular rugby is? Why are you even here? It make shock you to know that rugby is very popular in both Romania and Georgia, with a large following in both countries. I think you'll find a lot of people there do know of the sport.

  • I think it's about time this happened to encourage other European nations to play rugby and develop the game to a wider audience. Play off sounds the best plan as a straight relegation could get messy.

  • 178. chunky

    "Marler is no victim"

    So you say ... but he didn't break any law (try looking up 'racial abuse')

    He's been made a scapegoat pure and simple - no thanks to the encouragement from the WRU (one minute it's banter then next it's abuse) - duplicitous prigs.

  • Seems completely fair. Any team finishing bottom of a league shouldn't feel they are automatically involved in it in the following year.

    It will make games between the bottom teams even more competitive towards the end of the tournament.

    And teams like Georgia, Romania, Russia and the rest,have the chance to play against the 'big guns'.

  • Anyone that honestly thinks that Georgia and Romania could beat France, England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland needs their head examined. All these teams showed what they do to 2nd string nations by beating them convincingly in pretty much every WC qualifying game. Saying that have a play off game between the bottom of the 6N and top ENC. If they win then move up, no point in adding worse teams!

  • Mmmmm..would turn the tournament into a boring slugfest. G & R are nowhere near ready to take on Italy, never mind any other 6N team.

    I would propose bring back the A teams and have a separate tournament with G & R in that. They'd have a more realistic chance of winning then.

    As has been mentioned. Money is king and there is no way relegation will ever come into it. Another proposal needed.

  • I thought France and Italy finished below Scotland? Anyway a good and fair idea - maybe the Southern Hemisphere should do the same? How often do the likes of Samoa, Fiji and Tonga get to play their Tier 1 counterparts down there?

  • Straight relegation would be a bad idea because the team coming up might be comparatively poor and we need to strengthen the 6 Nations, not weaken it. A play-off between the top 2nd tier team and the bottom 6 Nations team played as part of the autumn internationals would be a great way of offering an opportunity to developing nations while allowing the bottom side a chance to keep their status.

  • @ 94. Rugbyman

    The 'mercans bring their own rules and costumes. If you want Mercan money, you will get to see rugby with big pads, eye-liner, shoulder barging and 20 minite ad breaks every 15 mins. Not for me, thanks. You can have your Mercan and keep him.

  • I like watching the home nations compete against each other as they have been for over a 100 years. To think of year where Scotland vs England, or Wales Vs Ireland doesn't take place because of relegation is saddening. Please, lets keep this tournament for ourselves.

    How about a second international european cup run alongside it in the similar format to the world cup?

  • Relegation tends to stifle teams play, playing not to lose is hardly going to encourage attacking intent and certainly not a way for us to catch the southern hemisphere giants. If we must change lets go to an 8 team pool system. GB&I in one and continental europe in another, best four compete for the cup, bottom 4 compete for the plate.

  • Probably about time to have a playoff. It'll be a shame if one of the old 5 nations goes down, but if they do they'll have deserved it by not playing well enough.

    The loss of the Triple Crown, Calcutta Cup or similar would be a big loss, but we've got to bring on rugby across the world, & this seems the easiest & best way of going about this. Hopefully eventually we'll get a Euro champtionship

  • 100% support -
    Last team has to play for their right to remain in the 6 Nations.

    There is no incentive for Italy to keep stepping up and being beaten ; An opportunity to regroup and get some wins together may be exactly what they need.

    A play off between the bottom team and top for the right to play in the 6 Nations a great idea

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