Georgia and Romania to participate in an 6N plus 2 tournament.

[Groundhog]

It's too soon to expand the senior competition, and if they do it should be via promotion and relegation. The calendar is packed enough for the players as it is. This is the right way to go about it I feel and a very obvious statement from the 6N that change is coming. Welcoming them to the Under 20 competition is a great move, because the standard is quite high and people do watch it with a lot of interest. It will get their young guys playing at a good standard every year and allow them to build into the yearly world cup better. That all leads to a higher standard of rugby player filtering into the seniors, and when Romania and Georgia do step up to the 6N proper they'll be better prepared.

 

[amz]

Well, won't happen this year the U20 tournament extended to Georgia and Romania

 

[bushytop]

Guys have anybody got an idea on how I could watch the 2018 Rugby Europe Championship in the UK?

I really would like to get a feel for the tournament, the crowds, cultures etc. It looks like the annual game between Georgia and Romania is a pretty big game and would love to catch that one at the very least... also interested to see some German rugby, I've heard that the country is really buying in.

 

[ncurd]

Sounds like the best way forward blood them at U20 level and if they put consecutive years (like a world cup cycle) of good performances consider them ready for senior competition. Obviously through promotion and relegation.

We don't want an Italy who apart from the odd miracle win have merely been a way to stop rest weeks of old.

 

[amz]

Guys have anybody got an idea on how I could watch the 2018 Rugby Europe Championship in the UK?

I really would like to get a feel for the tournament, the crowds, cultures etc. It looks like the annual game between Georgia and Romania is a pretty big game and would love to catch that one at the very least... also interested to see some German rugby, I've heard that the country is really buying in.

Great to see more and more interest from T1 countries. You can watch the matches here, streamed freely:
http://www.rugbyeurope.eu/welcome-rugby-europe-tv

You'll find out that Romania is coached by Lynn Howells, I am sure you remember the name.

There's a dedicated thread to REC 2018 on these forums as well:
https://www.therugbyforum.com/threads/rugby-europe-championship-2018.40726/

And in the same section you can find regular updates about T2 rugby (Romanian, Georgia, German etc.)

At last year REC finale in Bucharest about 150 British rugby fans traveled along with Eggchasers podcast or on their own:

 

[bushytop]

Great to see more and more interest from T1 countries. You can watch the matches here, streamed freely:
http://www.rugbyeurope.eu/welcome-rugby-europe-tv

You'll find out that Romania is coached by Lynn Howells, I am sure you remember the name.

There's a dedicated thread to REC 2018 on these forums as well:
https://www.therugbyforum.com/threads/rugby-europe-championship-2018.40726/

And in the same section you can find regular updates about T2 rugby (Romanian, Georgia, German etc.)

At last year REC finale in Bucharest about 150 British rugby fans traveled along with Eggchasers podcast or on their own:

Cheers dude, yeah remember seeing Lynn with your guys at the last World Cup.

I'm starting to come around to the idea of a relegation play off between the Rugby European Champs and the 6N spooners. I know the concern around killing Italian Rugby but I actually think it could work the other way. It could motivate them to compete in much the same way that the Italian Pro14 teams look to improve since threats/rumours of exclusion. I also think the new 'harsher but fairer' Pro14 qualification for the champions cup has caused the Welsh regions to take a good look at themselves and make changes for the better.

Also, as it currently stands Italy would have 1 more game that I would imagine to be both competitive and draw big interest. If Italy were to win that on the reg, it would obviously vindicate their inclusion in the minds of fans and players alike. I think it took France like 40-50 years to win a championship, 60 for a slam... Italy have had 17. If Romania or Georgia were to win those play offs against Italy (or whomever) I would look forward to seeing them compete with the big boys the following year.

 

[ncurd]

But France's first second place finish was 1921 a mere 11 years after they first started and 5 of those years were lost to WW1.

 

[Welshdragon2000]

Guys have anybody got an idea on how I could watch the 2018 Rugby Europe Championship in the UK?

I really would like to get a feel for the tournament, the crowds, cultures etc. It looks like the annual game between Georgia and Romania is a pretty big game and would love to catch that one at the very least... also interested to see some German rugby, I've heard that the country is really buying in.

It was my first REC last year and and i really enjoyed it so id recommend you watch it if you can! Head over to the REC 2018 thread for the tournament discussion.

 

[Thingimubob]

But France's first second place finish was 1921 a mere 11 years after they first started and 5 of those years were lost to WW1.

While that's a fair point, rugby is naturally very different now to the early amateur days! A lot easier for teams to catch up with those around them back then, while professionalism kinda hampers that a bit these days.

That said, ideally Italy should really have kicked on more by now considering how long they've been in the 6N and they club sides are now facing top level competition week in week out.

I'm definitely not against the idea of a play off between bottom of the 6N and top of the Euro Champs, but much prefer the idea of a home and away play off on aggregate. Naturally it's probably nigh on impossible to fit into the calendar without shifting other games, but I definitely feel it's truly reflect if a team is good enough to play in the 6N, and would protect against freak one off results.

Options could be that it replaces June tour games? So for example, lets say Italy come last this year, Georgia win the Euro Championship - Instead of going to Japan, Italy play Georgia home and away - however that leaves a very short turnaround for the two teams to organize the fixtures, and for Japan to get someone else in considering that the tour games are already scheduled.

Alternatively, a lot of teams organize an extra games before their tours. maybe make sure they have that potential week spare for a play off, with the return leg in the Autumn?

Probably will never happen due to the scheduling headache, but I still reckon it'd be better than a one off game anyway!