In a surprising twist of events, Georgia has publicly challenged Wales to a fixture in Tbilisi this autumn. The Welsh side coached by Warren Gatland finished bottom of the Six Nations. At the same time, The Lelos (Georgia National Team) won another Rugby Europe Championship, sparking debate about a relegation playoff between the two nations.
Georgia has also posted the challenge on their social media channels, with pressure expected to mount.
Fans who are regulars in the secondary market tickets from Wales and Georgia are now excited to see the outcome based on this proposition.
Worst Season for Wales
Wales’ winless campaign culminated with a dismal defeat to Italy in Cardiff on March 16, picking up the wooden spoon for the first time since 2003, after which Warren Gatland unsuccessfully offered his resignation to the Welsh Rugby Union.
A day after the loss to Italy, the Georgian side made headlines after they won their 7th consecutive Rugby Europe Championship, defeating Portugal 36-10 at the Stade Jean-Bouin in Paris.
It was their 17th title since 2000, once again stimulating conversations around an expanded Six Nations and leading Cockerill to admit that his side is probably too good for this competition.
While introducing promotion and relegation is unlikely, especially shortly, the Georgian Rugby Union have invited Wales to their capital for a de facto playoff.
Fans who are Wales supporters would also wholeheartedly welcome this after the dismal Six Nations, with secondary market tickets to see their team try and get back to winning ways.
The message to Wales was not just a move of ego but also a reminder to the Six Nations that it is time for an inclusive structure to accommodate the second-tier sides in the competition based on merit.
Via a press release, GRU president Ioseb Tkemaladze said: “It’s my great pleasure to invite our dear friends from Wales to play Georgia in Tbilisi this autumn.
“After a thrilling Six Nations and Georgia’s seventh consecutive success in the Rugby Europe Championship, rugby fans everywhere are crying out for this fixture, so I hope the Welsh will accept our invitation.”
“Of course, we’d be equally happy to play them in Cardiff – where we won a famous victory in 2022.”
Our two proud rugby nations have a strong connection, and we have had some exciting contests recently. We are rugby brothers.
Georgia also posted the challenge on their social media channels.
World Cup Qualification and Six Nations
Several statements have come out of World Rugby as they opt to change the World Cup to accommodate 16 teams. With this change, several fans of the Six Nations who are regulars with secondary market tickets have raised concerns about the World Cup qualification moving away from the Six Nations.
The norm is that the top 5 teams in Europe are taken from the Six Nations standings. A rule change would mean teams must accommodate a qualifier before the Rugby World Cup.
But World Rugby has reassured that they will stick to the usual format.
In practice – and despite the apparent complexity of the above diagram – quite simply, the top five teams in this year’s Six Nations will qualify for the World Cup.
With the top 5 getting qualification, the sixth-place team will have a match-up against the winners of the European Championship.
The winner of that game will also qualify.
The loser will play in WXV3, where the top two teams will qualify.
It would get a tiny bit more complicated if England or France finished sixth, but – first – that is not going to happen, and – second – even if it did, in the end, it would make little difference.
Ultimately, all teams that qualify for this year’s WXV1 and WXV2 will also qualify for the World Cup.
Where they finish in WXV1 and WXV2 is irrelevant. The team ending at the bottom of WXV2 will be ranked in the top 12 and higher than the team that tops WXV3.
That means the top five in the Six Nations, all the teams in the Pacific Fours, the African and Asian Champions, and the winner of the European playoff will all be at the World Cup regardless of anything else.
The last four places will go to the Oceania Champions, the South America playoff winners, and the top two in WXV3 (or, if the Oceania champions end first or second in WXV3, the third team).
Six Nations Awards
The Six Nations Player of the Championship award has four top-tier nominees: Ben Earl from England, Bundee Aki of Ireland, Duhan van der Merwe of Scotland, and Tommaso Menoncello of Italy.
England number eight Earl, 26, was named player of the match after home wins over Wales and Ireland for his try-scoring displays with the ball in hand.
He is joined on the shortlist by Ireland centre Aki, Scotland wing Van der Merwe and Italy centre Menoncello.
Menoncello was imposing in attack and defence, making the most dominant tackles of any back in the tournament. Italy claimed their best Six Nations return with two wins and a draw.
Menoncello was a crucial figure in making it happen, and he was an inevitable choice for the award.
Earl made 73 carries—more than any other player in the tournament—as England finished third. Only France winger Damian Penaud beat more defenders.
Menoncello – An Exceptional Young Talent
At just 19 years and 170 days, Tommaso Menoncello went on to the history books to become the youngest Six Nations try-scorer in history when he touched down against France in 2022.
Only two years later, the Benetton centre has arguably been one of the tournament’s best players and a key player in Italy’s upturn. With the youngster showing ample potential, it is only a sign that this Italian side could see a revival in their playing style and become a competitive force.
In just 16 appearances, the youngster already has five tries, and this Six Nations indicates that he is starting XV material.
While the future looks bright for Italy, the same cannot be said about Wales. The question will now arise whether a coaching change is needed for Wales, where the side needs to look beyond the likes of Warren Gatland.
