Sam Warburton on why Georgia and not South Africa should be added to Six Nations

Former Wales and British & Irish Lions skipper Sam Warburton believes it’s time for the Six Nations to be expanded, with Georgia added as the tournament’s seventh team.

Writing in his column for The Times, Warburton made the case for the Lelos to be added to the Championship.

This, after Wales recently finished at the bottom of the Six Nations standings after losing all five of their matches while Georgia were crowned champions of the second tier Rugby Europe tournament for the seventh successive year.

In recent years, there have been calls for the Six Nations to introduce a relegation play-off but the competition’s organisers have rebuffed the idea due to the financial ramifications for the relegated side.

The Lelos have a strong case

However, Warburton feels Georgia has a strong case to be added to the competition as its seventh team, ahead of South Africa, who have also been touted as a possible Six Nations addition if the famous tournament should expand.

“Should Wales play Georgia now after the Georgians challenged them to an unofficial relegation play-off from the Six Nations? Absolutely they should,” wrote Warburton.

“It is time to consider Georgia as a seventh team. South Africa have been mentioned and their club teams are already playing in the United Rugby Championship (URC), as well as the Champions and Challenge Cups.

“But for me the South African teams in the URC don’t work. It’s too random.

Wales issue swift response to cheeky challenge from Georgia

“I’m not saying they don’t bring good value — they obviously bring good quality of play — but the competition as a whole doesn’t make sense to me. I really like them being in the Champions and Challenge Cups, however, because I think it is good for Europe’s best to pit themselves against them.

“But South Africa in a Seven Nations is going too far. Before we know it, New Zealand will be in it too. Georgia and Rugby Europe champions it should be. They are a passionate rugby nation and their government invests £10 million a year into their £14 million annual rugby budget. The timing of their would-be admission to a Seven Nations is crucial. Their rugby is no flash in the pan.

“This is a cultural thing that is not going to go away. So, I think it is inevitable that at some stage they are going to have to be admitted into a Seven Nations tournament. It is a question of when.”

Many rugby fans are keen for a promotion/relegation play-off to be introduced to the Six Nations but Warburton does not believe that idea is viable.

“I have long argued for a relegation play-off from the Six Nations and I still love the idea of that sort of jeopardy, but… and this is quite a big ‘but’ for which I know I will get a lot of stick: it is not going to happen,” he added.

“It is not that I am suddenly changing my mind on this because Wales have just finished bottom of the Six Nations. I’ve been talking to a lot of people high up in sports administration, particularly those working in television.

‘Compelling drama’

“From a broadcast perspective they would love relegation in the Six Nations because it would make for compelling drama. But there is one big risk: England getting relegated.

“England provides such a massive proportion of the viewing figures that, if they were to miss out on the Six Nations for a season, it would be catastrophic commercially. But the reality is that, even if broadcasters were in favour, no home nation is going to agree to a relegation play-off.

“Instead, the more viable option is to increase the tournament to seven teams.”

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