CHRIS FOY: Rugby wrong to refuse Samoa and Georgia shot at top table

Posted on : 09/27/2023
CHRIS FOY: Rugby wrong to refuse Samoa and Georgia shot at top table
Rugby Union 

CHRIS FOY: Rugby wrong to refuse Samoa, Georgia and Uruguay shot at top table – ‘Tier 2’ countries at the World Cup has shown the potential for a vibrant, expanding global game

  • World Cup has been a showcase for ‘Tier 2’ countries after global league snub
  • A Nations Championship which locks out so much potential is not the answer  
  • Likes of Georgia, Samoa and Uruguay have to be given a shot at upward mobility 
  • Latest Rugby World Cup 2023 news, including fixtures, live scores and results

Samoa are primed to take a shot at Japan tonight, then England in Lille next weekend, driven by a desire to prove along with Georgia that they should not be locked out of rugby’s new global league.

The World Cup has been a showcase for the ‘Tier 2’ countries, just as a wedge is set to be driven between them and the leading sides.

In 2026 the Nations Championship will be launched, the idea being to create ‘narrative’ for Tests. But the devil is in the detail, with the event to feature the Six Nations and Rugby Championship teams, plus Japan and Fiji.

There is no place for the likes of Samoa and Georgia and there can’t be for some time, as promotion and relegation won’t start until at least 2030.

Samoa’s head coach is former London Irish centre Seilala Mapusua. He tells Mail Sport how this snub is providing fuel for their efforts here in France, which began with a 43-10 demolition of Chile before a 19-10 defeat by Argentina.

Samoa’s head coach Seilala Mapusua says his side are out to prove a point at the World Cup 

Samoa began with a 43-10 demolition of Chile before a 19-10 defeat by Argentina

‘This world league is a motivating factor for us,’ says Mapusua. ‘We believe if we can get consistent games, we will get better and we want to make sure we put in performances which say, “We deserve to be there”.

‘I told Eddie Jones when England were in Australia last year: “Bring the boys over to Samoa”. I would love Northern Hemisphere teams to come down to Samoa and the Pacific islands. It would be a unique experience for them.’

The World Rugby rankings suggest the league is not meritocratic, with Samoa 11th ahead of Japan in 14th. No wonder tonight’s game is a significant one for Samoa to make a statement.

This World Cup has seen Chile qualify for the first time and Uruguay push France to the brink. Portugal gave Wales a fright and went on to draw with Georgia.

There are green shoots, if rugby’s powers-that-be want to nurture them. Spain have had crowds of more than 25,000 for domestic finals and 40,000 watched their national team take on the Classic All Blacks in Madrid last year.

The likes of Georgia, Samoa and Uruguay have to be given a shot at upward mobility. The USA will rise as they invest ahead of a home World Cup in 2031, and the game would benefit from efforts to revitalise struggling Canada and Romania. Brazil are another with raw potential, who have earned attention for their scrummaging prowess.

South America could become a vast new rugby hotbed capable of hosting a World Cup. The sport is crying out for cultural diversity to finally cast off its stuffy, closed-shop, post-colonial image. But after his side were thrashed by England, Chile head coach Pablo Lemoine hit out at the ‘circus owners’ in lamenting a lack of meaningful fixtures.

England’s Maro Itoje said: ‘Gone are the days of 100-0s. We are moving into an era where these “Tier 2” countries have better conditioning, come in way more prepared.’

This World Cup has seen Uruguay push France to the brink and Portugal give Wales a fright

The elephant in the room is the Six Nations’ private-club nature. Turkeys won’t vote for Christmas, so nothing is done to jeopardise the format.

But there should be a merit-based system to earn a place at the top table. A play-off between the wooden spooners and the winners of the second-tier Rugby Europe Championship would be progress.

Rugby is at a crossroads. Does it want to be a safe haven for traditional nations or a vibrant, expanding global game? A Nations Championship which locks out so much potential is not the answer.

No wonder Samoa, Georgia and others are hell-bent on making a point here. Good luck to them.

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