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The Improvement of Tier Two Nations - In Particular Russia

Melhor Time said:
Georgia is doing things really well. Players must be exposed to perofessional rugby or they will never reach their potential. To kick on though they do need to get improved structure at home. The development centres are working and then national championship is too. It needs to go professional though. Either join Romania an possibly others to make something similar to to Rabo Direct Pro 12 would be the smartest path. A team in the Amlin Chellenge Cup asap.

Japan has improved significantly. It should have defeated Tonga and Canada at the World Cup. Its really bizzare how poor they played vs Tonga. They´d put 40 points on Namibia. I´m sure they´ll win two matches at RWC 2019 and depending on who they play in 2015 I´d probably say the same.

Russia is on its way. The question is when will the national side be capable of competing with the first tier. I´d say not too far from now. The money going into the sport and its rising image is working. Amlin Challenge Cup entry will be a massive breakthrough. Russia could well knock over Fiji, Tonga, the USA and Canada before RWC 2015.

Canada is improving a lot now that its got rid of the Super League system and gone for the CRC. Hopefully the four teams can become 6 shortly. The Rock could be downsided with maybe New Brunswick splitting off. The region has produced some great players currently in the national side. Canada need the USA and the USA need Canada. The USA is trying to go pro and could well succeed in 2013 as planned. If so then Canada will be included.

Overall things are massively better than they were in 2004 when the outlook was grim following the worst World Cup ever. The second tier is improving and what is interesting is big countries are getting better. Its no longer mostly small countries that most people can´t find even on a map. I´ve had conversations with people who want Namibia to lose because of its population and don´t like Samoa for its size and population. Not that I buy into this point of view but it does carry weight in that Japan as a big rugby nation is probably better for rugby than Tonga. Same goes for Canada compared to Uruguay and Russia compared to Lithuania.
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Where did you get your information for this? It's the first I have heard about the USA aiming at getting a pro-league? Have you got a link?
 
Jayatron said:
Where did you get your information for this? It's the first I have heard about the USA aiming at getting a pro-league? Have you got a link?
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All I can say is a person involved with USA rugby who is a former international told me himself. I am not able to say more.
 
Melhor Time said:
All I can say is a person involved with USA rugby who is a former international told me himself. I am not able to say more.
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Interesting. Obviously I cannot take you on your word, and of of course hear say is unreliable, but; if this is true then brilliant!! The more pro leagues and cross boarder competitions there is then the better international rugby will be.

But I have to reiterate that I am suspect of this. No offence of course but this is the internet.
 
No problem. I too need to see actual proof of it myself. I am just rehashing what I was told. I can say that the person is reliable but have promised him not to say who he is.

Lets hope it is on the mark!
 
I think it's a little to soon for them to start on one to be honest, if it fails it will set them back years financially. I'd rather see how 7's in the olympics grows the sport in the collegiate system first as that's where the sport will grow in my opinion. NFL style franchises are still light years away. But back to the topic does anybody know where i could find info on olympic funding of these nations as i can see the 7's being the most watched team sport at the games for years to come. That's where the respective unions should be focussing in my humble opinion.
 
Jayatron said:
Where did you get your information for this? It's the first I have heard about the USA aiming at getting a pro-league? Have you got a link?
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This is one the biggest sporting buzz on twitter since a month now. Many blogs talked about this.
 
powerfulduck said:
I think it's a little to soon for them to start on one to be honest, if it fails it will set them back years financially. I'd rather see how 7's in the olympics grows the sport in the collegiate system first as that's where the sport will grow in my opinion. NFL style franchises are still light years away. But back to the topic does anybody know where i could find info on olympic funding of these nations as i can see the 7's being the most watched team sport at the games for years to come. That's where the respective unions should be focussing in my humble opinion.
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Some very valid points. Surely some well based teams in the hotbeds of rugby will help grow the sport? As long as it's flowing and entertaining they may come? But I can see your point. If it does fail then it could set the game back. Or if it does work, could put US rugby on the international map. With the population the size of America and other sports such as lacrosse having a professional league surely rugby could survive??

Also not sure about 7s being the most the most watched sport at the games. Especially considering it is Brazil and compared to other sports like the 100m sprint, swimming and velodrome.

Bail said:
This is one the biggest sporting buzz on twitter since a month now. Many blogs talked about this.
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Sorry I don't use Twitter. Which blogs did you read this in?
 
Also not sure about 7s being the most the most watched sport at the games. Especially considering it is Brazil and compared to other sports like the 100m sprint, swimming and velodrome.

Sorry to correct you but i did say "team" game, Field hockey I believe draws a big audience as does soccer but I think for your average American watching the olympics a Full contact team game will really be a revelation.
 
The 7's should draw a big audience in the Olympics. It'll be the most exciting event there up with the sprinting.
I personally don't see why people get so hyped about the Olympics all the sports are so boring and pointless, hopefully the 7's will bring a new dimension to the whole thing.
 
welshglory said:
The 7's should draw a big audience in the Olympics. It'll be the most exciting event there up with the sprinting.
I personally don't see why people get so hyped about the Olympics all the sports are so boring and pointless, hopefully the 7's will bring a new dimension to the whole thing.
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26 different sports, some of the greatest sportsmen and women in the world. Some truly amazing records to be broken weights lifted etc. I really can't see how you can say all the sports are boring and pointless.

I am sure some folk will take that view about the 7's and along with tennis football etc. It is not really an Olympic event and should just be track and field.

I might be alone in loving the Games, the BMX and cycling events can be pretty awesome and the races are really exciting.
 
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Saintjay said:
26 different sports, some of the greatest sportsmen and women in the world. Some truly amazing records to be broken weights lifted etc. I really can't see how you can say all the sports are boring and pointless.

I am sure some folk will take that view about the 7's and along with tennis football etc. It is not really an Olympic event and should just be track and field.

I might be alone in loving the Games, the BMX and cycling events can be pretty awesome and the races are really exciting.
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Really some of those sports are crap, shooting, give me a break. While i agree shooting is a skill, it's much like darts, do we need to include darts. Want to be impressive, try running a marathon and shooting, a summer bi-athalon is you will.

The Olympics is a fat bloated shadow of it's former self. I would prefer to see large half pipe skate boarding than speed walking......EFFIN SPEED WALKING. Congrats you are the best in the world at catching the late bus.

Waht crap.
 
Gresev is going to tear it up for Wasps, very impressed with what I've seen of him.
 
Now, 6 russian players are at the higher level :

Vladislav Korshunov (hooker, London Wasps)
Andrey Ostrikov (lock/flanker, Sale Sharks)
Adam Byrnes (lock, Melbourne Rebels)
Kirill Kulemin (lock, Castres Olympique)
Viktor Gresev (3d row, London Wasps)
Vasily Artemiev (wing, Northampton Saints)
 
The sudden explosion of Russian Rugby is very exciting. With Rugby 7's now being an Olympic sport and the money that the Russian Government love throwing at Olympic Sports they can only improve. Its vital that Russia gets a team into the Amlin Cup to help aid with their development as well as more of their players signing for big European clubs. Lets keep this ball moving! Go Russia!
 
I'm sure White Bear posted something in his russian rugby thread about VVA-Podmoskovye building a 10,000 seater staduim currently with a view to being accepted into the Amlin post 2012. I've found nothing official regarding this though.
 

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