Throughout the best part of the last decade, questions have been raised as to whether the current Six Nations format is the best possible lay-out for the Northern Hemisphere’s top tier.
A seven year draught for an Italian victory from 2015 to 2022, put the ‘Azzurri’ in the conversation against why the Six Nations was ring-fenced, and not opened up to the Rugby Europe Championship. In the latest Six Nations, Italy once again went a year without a win, whilst Georgia won a record sixth consecutive Rugby Europe Championship title.
Georgia have certainly staked their claim for promotion into the Six Nations, yet this should not come at the direct expense of the Italians. Georgia have dominated the Rugby Europe Championship, (the competition below the Six Nations), with 14 titles since Italy’s omission to the Six Nations in 2000.
On two occasions now, Georgia have won the title a staggering six consecutive times in a row. Georgia retained the REC title from 2011 to 2016, and again from 2018 to 2023.
They started this year’s Championship in just as strong form, with a staggering 75-12 thrashing of Germany. They followed this by dispatching the Netherlands 40-8, and Spain 41-3 to finish top of Pool A. They then eliminated 2023 Rugby World Cup qualifiers Romania with a confident 31-7 semi-final victory, before the Grand Final triumph over Portugal.
Portugal also head to this year’s Rugby World Cup, but could not come close to Georgia who won 38-11.
However, Italy now look like a side that are no longer the default underdogs in the Six Nations, and deserve their spot in the competition. They have Premiership, URC and Top 14 quality stars flowing throughout the squad, and have an unbreakable team cohesion and spirit.
They are proud to represent their country, and with recent wins against Wales and Australia, we are on the cusp of an Italian rugby Renaissance. Kieran Crowley’s appointment as Head Coach has worked wonders for Italy, and they present arguments as to why they should remain in the top flight.
The likes of Paolo Garbisi, Michele Lamaro and Ange Capuozzo are grabbing the headlines for their outstanding performances for their country. Expressive and exciting rugby breathes fresh air into the regimented defences of the home nations, who can get caught out by the Italian unpredictability.
Italy took the titans of France and Ireland to their limits in the latest Six Nations, as the squad is certainly coming into it’s own. The seventh nation addition of Georgia would only benefit the Italians, and the other five nations as a whole.
At their current form, Italy would be arguable favourites if they took on Georgia, and having that level of optimism would only improve the performance from the Azzurri. The home nations and France would not take Georgia likely, as the bruising Eastern Europeans could provide an unexpected roadblock on the path to silverware.
Georgia have proven that they possess the quality to compete with Europe’s elite. Two crucial victorious last year hammer this point home. In July, Georgia secured a comfortable 28-19 win over Italy, with Fly Half Tedo Abzhandadze contributing two tries, and 10 points from the boot. The Georgians then followed this up with a 12-13 away win over Wales in last year’s Autumn Internationals, in what was the nail in the coffin for Wayne Pivac’s time in charge.
Now, the argument remains as to whether the Six Nations need to remove their ring fence, and allow for a promotion and relegation play off. Or, should Georgia be entered into the competition as the new ‘seventh nation’, just as Italy were some 23 years ago.
A relegation-promotion play-off would be an entertaining extra match to wrap up the two competitions, and allows both sides to silence any doubt around there deservedness in the Six Nations. If Georgia beat a bottom placed Italy or Wales, they would have truly earnt their spot in the Six Nations for the following year. There would be critics, but far less than if Georgia were simply added to establish the ‘Seven Nations’.
A ‘Seven Nations Championship’ would be a lot to add to the fixture list, in the ever-growing seasons at domestic level. The play-off match would solidify the claims from both countries, that they belong in the division. The play-off could even take place over two legs, with a home fixture generating revenue and support from both sets of fans.