Uruguay are doing well and it's good to see a lesser Rugby nation pushing one of the better teams. More should be done to expand the sport by giving countries an incentive to get better. There is the Rugby Championship....... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rugby_Championship Could they not put two smaller Rugby Union countries in and make it a southern hemisphere Six Nations? Italy have been in the Six Nations since 2000 and been useless the whole time, with no sign of improvement. Could they not have a second tier six nations for the northern hemisphere where the yearly winner replaces the bottom nation of the tier above? Italy would have to try harder and countries like Russia and Georgia would get a chance to freshen things up. This explains a fair bit....... https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-50014118
Wales has a population of a mere 3.1 million yet is a top rugby nation. Why Italy, Georgia, S.American countries etc. can't get their act together is a mystery. Hold on MD - I'm a Taff or a Welshy but never a WelCHie! Wales is a small nation of 3.1 million people (minus 1.) The Welsh team come from a very small area of South Wales - the dream of every Welsh schoolboy is to play for Wales. Our National Identity is linked to our Rugby performances. I think that is why we do so well. Other countries like Italy, Georgia, Russia and Uruguay etc. - don't have this passion. (And nothing gives us greater pleasure than beating the 'posh boys' especially if its at Twickenham.) Go on to You Tube and key in 'the welsh are coming' and you'll see what I mean. Sospan Fach rules o.k.
There is a Six Nations B League. Eddie Jones recently mentioned having promotion / relegation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rugby_Europe_International_Championships
I know naff all about Rugby Union but was reading about it a few months back and the reason it won’t happen is that if one of the bigger countries, ie, England had a **** year and finished bottom they lose a load of revenue by being in the second division and god forbid that. Same thing has happened in cricket, test cricket could do with a proper test Championship but they come up with a terrible fudged idea because they daren’t get in a position where Australia, India and England aren’t regularly touring each other to keep the money flowing. It’s wrong and the game won’t grow as it should but it’s the truth, and the same with rugby as they’re set up in similarish ways.
