Former Wales and Lions skipper Sam Warburton advocates for an expanded Six Nations, endorsing the inclusion of Georgia.
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Wales, enduring a disappointing campaign with a Wooden Spoon, faces pressure from Georgia, champions of the Rugby Europe second-tier tournament for the seventh consecutive year.
Despite longstanding discussions about a relegation playoff, financial concerns for the demoted team have previously rendered it improbable.
“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 in his Times column.
“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.
“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.”
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. 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.”
Jonny Wilkinson Names Best Player He’s Ever Played With
England legend Jonny Wilkinson has been blessed enough to play with some of the best players in rugby history, having played for England, the Lions, Newcastle and Toulon.
Picking his dream team, the number 10 has named back-rower Richard Hill as the best player he played with during his career.
JONNY WILKINSON: DREAM TEAM
FRONT-ROW
1. Jason Leonard (England): He was seen by Wilkinson as “someone who inspired and brought energy to the game” with impact.
2. Keith Wood (Ireland): “You need someone here in this position who can bring you the set piece control but at the same time I think they need to be aggressive, be someone that runs hard, someone that doesn’t stop, never gives up.”
3. Craig Dowd (New Zealand): “As with all tight heads what you want is someone who doesn’t take no for an answer, someone who is maybe a little quieter but someone you just don’t mess with”
SECOND-ROW
4. Bakkies Botha (South Africa): “Someone incredibly fierce but very very down to earth” and “at times he’s exactly what a team needs.”
5. Martin Johnson (England): “intelligent, another massive leader, gets himself around the park. My captain”
