The Telegraph: “Open up the Six Nations and let Georgia in”

This week Georgia improved its place on the IRB world ranking list; its fifth consecutive European Nations Cup win saw Georgia step one higher on the ladder and claim 14th position, relegating Italy down one to 15th place.

With Georgia’s latest competition win, it was suggested the Georgian’s should challenge the wooden spoon side for a spot in the Six Nations rugby competition – but there was almost no chance this would happen, writes Oliver Brown, The Telegraph’s chief sports feature writer.

"The reason for their exile has nothing to do with rugby,” he said.

They remain excluded not because of a failure to be considered European enough, when 17 members of their 27-man squad ply their trade in France. Instead, their inability to supplant Italy at the Six Nations table is based solely on questions of commerce and culture.”

Allowing Georgia/the ENC winner to challenge the Six Nations’ bottom team would generate fiercer competition as possible relegated teams would be "fighting for their very future” not just playing another game.

Brown writes: "It is ironic, when all the rhetoric around rugby is to globalise the game; that the leading countries are in fact more selfish than ever. In the era of the Five Nations, Ireland played still-to-be accepted Italy four times in five years. Now the Georgians, the next coming force, are barely allowed a look-in.”

Read the full article here: www.telegraph.co.uk