Six Nations ‘letting World Rugby down’ over tier two development

Legendary All Black John Kirwan believes that SANZAAR is doing more to help tier two countries than the Six Nations.

Fiji have been one of the standout sides of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, while teams such as Uruguay and Portugal have also impressed.

The Pacific Islanders defeated two-time world champions Australia last weekend to put themselves in contention for a place in the quarter-finals.

Super Rugby help

The Flying Fijians have been helped by the introduction of Fijian Drua into Super Rugby Pacific, while there have been calls for the national team to be included in the Rugby Championship going forward.

That would come just over a decade after Argentina joined the Southern Hemisphere competition.

In contrast, Italy were the last side to be added to the northern hemisphere’s annual international tournament, which created the Six Nations in 2000.

Georgia have been knocking on the door recently, especially after overcoming Wales in Cardiff last November, but organisers have so far been reluctant to bring another team in or switch to promotion/relegation.

And Kirwan insists that the Six Nations’ unwillingness to change is hampering those sides’ development, as well as harming countries like Romania, who used to be competitive at the top level.

“Do you know who’s letting down World Rugby? The Six Nations. They actually need to start developing these sides that are going backwards, such as Romania,” Kirwan said on The Breakdown.

“We’ve invested in Portugal and Spain, and these sides are getting better, so there needs to have a promotion and relegation, and getting the tier two sides a chance to play.

“We know that tournaments are how you get better.”

Other Pacific Island teams

Like Fiji, Samoa and Tonga have been aided by the inclusion of Moana Pasifika into Super Rugby, while World Rugby’s change in eligibility laws has given them access to a number of former All Blacks and Wallabies.

Although ‘Ikale Tahi struggled against Ireland, Kirwan reckons the Samoans could join Fiji in upsetting a tier one nation when they face Argentina on Friday.

“I thought Samoa could have played better (against Chile), I thought Tonga could have played better, but they will get better over the tournament,” he said.

“Samoa have a chance. Did you see Argentina play the other day? Well, if they play like that, Samoa have got a chance.

“I don’t think they can play that badly again, and my mate Diego Dominguez, I spoke to him, and he was horrified.

“I’ve never seen Argentina play that badly, but that’s tournament rugby. You come in, you lose your confidence, and you start playing terribly.”

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