New and developing rugby countries

[RugbyFuture]

thought it was time there was a thread to keep us up to date on the developing rugby world. This comes from the IRB website having an article on Rwanda playing in a 10's tournament, their nickname is the Silverbacks (pretty cool nickname) Ive also been hearing cuba are going to start appearing and lithuiana are apparently going to try and push themselves into the playoff spot for the RWC.

so post the latest news from those countries who arent so prominent, and let us all know how our game is growing overseas.

 

[RugbyReg]

good stuff.

Is it true that Russia have qualified for the RWC next year?

 

[RugbyFuture]

russia are now ranked above georgia in the rankings and if they beat georgia they could get above tonga.

more importantly they said they didnt want to go and lose all their matches (obviously) and wanted to make atleast the next level above the pools.

 

[TOCC]

good stuff.

Is it true that Russia have qualified for the RWC next year?

yeah Russia have qualified, Russian rugby is undergoing somewhat of a renaisance of late, following the inclusion of 7's rugby into the Olympics, several of the pro rugby league teams switched codes to rugby union including the champion club Lokomtiv.

 

[chief]

I was reading about Georgian Rugby the other day. For a country of 9 million, rugby is the most popular sport in the southern region. They got 55,000 in the crowd to a European Nations Cup game (Six Nations B pretty much) between Russia and themselves. They have qualified for the World Cup, I seriously hope more becomes of this rugby country.

 

[RugbyFuture]

I was reading about Georgian Rugby the other day. For a country of 9 million, rugby is the most popular sport in the southern region. They got 55,000 in the crowd to a European Nations Cup game (Six Nations B pretty much) between Russia and themselves. They have qualified for the World Cup, I seriously hope more becomes of this rugby country.

i heard they're pushing for an eventual look in for an expanded six nations tournament

 

[chief]

I was reading about Georgian Rugby the other day. For a country of 9 million, rugby is the most popular sport in the southern region. They got 55,000 in the crowd to a European Nations Cup game (Six Nations B pretty much) between Russia and themselves. They have qualified for the World Cup, I seriously hope more becomes of this rugby country.

i heard they're pushing for an eventual look in for an expanded six nations tournament

I can't see that happening for at least another decade. They don't have the player base just yet, I think they could come in close with Italy, but that is literally it. Would love to see Georgia play a few more games against other teams at the end of year tests. Before RWC 2011, hoping to see them play a few practice matches in Australia.

 

[tranquility]

As it stands, Georgia are okay. But don't discredit Italy that much - Italy would dust Georgia. Italy are only a a handful of players short of being up to standard consistently with the other 6 nations teams.

 

[Thomond78]

Incidentally, there already is a 6N B. No promotion or relegation, yet, but it'll almost certainly come in due course.

 

[en_force_er]

How come Spain/Portugal gets a spot in the Euro challenge cup and Georgia doesn't? It's great to see those countries being developed but still, Georgia should be a priority.

Also, surely if rugby is so popular in Southern Georgia you could set up a professional side and have them play in the Magners? They would get pumped for now, but it would go places.

 

[chief]

How come Spain/Portugal gets a spot in the Euro challenge cup and Georgia doesn't? It's great to see those countries being developed but still, Georgia should be a priority.

Also, surely if rugby is so popular in Southern Georgia you could set up a professional side and have them play in the Magners? They would get pumped for now, but it would go places.

Could the Magners really afford that though? I mean the two Italian teams were a stretch, how would the Georgian team work.

 

[JJJ]

I was reading about Georgian Rugby the other day. For a country of 9 million, rugby is the most popular sport in the southern region. They got 55,000 in the crowd to a European Nations Cup game (Six Nations B pretty much) between Russia and themselves. They have qualified for the World Cup, I seriously hope more becomes of this rugby country.

I imagine the Georgians would love any sport which allowed them to battle the Russians on an equal footing. It'd be like a rugby match between China and Taiwan. Except that China hasn't invaded Taiwan recently.

A quick wiki trawl informs me that rugby is the official sport of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, which has approximately 3 million members. I doubt that means much in practical terms though.

 

[en_force_er]

How come Spain/Portugal gets a spot in the Euro challenge cup and Georgia doesn't? It's great to see those countries being developed but still, Georgia should be a priority.

Also, surely if rugby is so popular in Southern Georgia you could set up a professional side and have them play in the Magners? They would get pumped for now, but it would go places.

Could the Magners really afford that though? I mean the two Italian teams were a stretch, how would the Georgian team work.

They already took the franchise system from S14 perhaps in the pool system is successful they could take that too?

 

[Moses]

How come Spain/Portugal gets a spot in the Euro challenge cup and Georgia doesn't? It's great to see those countries being developed but still, Georgia should be a priority.

Because Georgia is in Asia, not Europe.

 

[RugbyFuture]

How come Spain/Portugal gets a spot in the Euro challenge cup and Georgia doesn't? It's great to see those countries being developed but still, Georgia should be a priority.

Because Georgia is in Asia, not Europe.

actually georgia is classified as eastern europe, although if you look at eastern europe you have a few good countries there ans rising ones (georgia, russia, romania, lithuania, kazakhstan[asia])

asia is cut off at kazahkstan

 

[en_force_er]

How come Spain/Portugal gets a spot in the Euro challenge cup and Georgia doesn't? It's great to see those countries being developed but still, Georgia should be a priority.

Because Georgia is in Asia, not Europe.

Well, a valid point (they aren't your stereotypical "European") but Georgia compete in the European Nations Cup Division 1. If they are European enough for that, then why not?

 

[DPK]

How come Spain/Portugal gets a spot in the Euro challenge cup and Georgia doesn't? It's great to see those countries being developed but still, Georgia should be a priority.

Because Georgia is in Asia, not Europe.

Come on guys...

 

[tranquility]

geography questions are always funny.

 

[Thomond78]

How come Spain/Portugal gets a spot in the Euro challenge cup and Georgia doesn't? It's great to see those countries being developed but still, Georgia should be a priority.

Also, surely if rugby is so popular in Southern Georgia you could set up a professional side and have them play in the Magners? They would get pumped for now, but it would go places.

Because it's about 1,000 km south and east of the rest of us in the ML?

Why should we always be the ones taking the burden? Hell, if you want forward-dominated thud-and-blunder, look no further than the GP...