Georgia have laid down the gauntlet to struggling Wales once again with an invitation for the two sides to meet in Tbilisi as the Lelos look to prove their Six Nations credentials.
The Eastern Europeans, coached by former England and Leicester hooker Richard Cockerill, have risen to 11 in World Rugby’s rankings – a place above Wales who have lost 14 straight Tests. Last season, Georgia also made an offer to play Wales which was not taken up.
Now, the team which has won the last seven Rugby Europe titles – European rugby’s international tournament below the Six Nations – has reprised the deal. Georgia believe they deserve a chance to join the Championship proper via the introduction of an annual play-off between the team which finishes bottom of the Six Nations and the winner of Rugby Europe.
‘Rising to 11 place in the rankings is a big step forward for us,’ Georgian Rugby president Soso Tkemaladze told Mail Sport.
‘But the fact we are now ahead of Wales gives us even more hope our voice will be heard at the door we are knocking on.
‘Despite our victory in Cardiff in 2022, Wales will always remain one of our strongest opponents. If they visit Georgia, we will have another opportunity to prove ourselves.
Wales have lost their last 14 Tests and parted ways with Warren Gatland last week
Meanwhile, Georgia are dominating Rugby Europe, having won the last seven titles
Georgia president Soso Tkemaladze (pictured) has now challenged Wales to a match
‘Consider this statement of mine as an invitation for Wales to play a Test in Georgia. We have been demonstrating our progress with our results and work over the last two to three years.
‘It is time to start discussing how we can be admitted to the Six Nations in any suggested format. Our main message to World Rugby and the Six Nations is that if rugby does not grow, its competitiveness will decline. At this stage, we are faced with the fact we were not given the opportunity to have a place in World Rugby’s new global Nations Championship.
‘I do not think this decision was made out of fear towards Georgia, but we very much hope the new president of World Rugby introduces a new vision.’
Introducing a Six Nations play-off looks unlikely at this stage as doing so would require each of the Championship’s existing constituent unions to approve putting their own place at risk.
Turkeys do not vote for Christmas.
But what is clear is that Georgia cannot continue to progress playing in Rugby Europe – a competition in which they hammered Switzerland 110-0 earlier this month.
Cockerill’s Lelos need more regular matches against tier-one nations to improve.
‘We’ve qualified for the next World Cup which is key, but with all due respect the level of the teams we have to play against to do that means we should expect to,’ Cockerill said.
‘We need to play at a higher level to be tested and to learn from losing. I’m still not sure how the World Rugby rankings are done.
‘We beat the Netherlands, Wales lose to Italy, and we go above them. It’s not really comparing apples with apples, is it? We don’t want to be given anything.
‘We just want the opportunity to prove we’re good enough. As it stands, if Wales finish bottom of the Six Nations, we’d like – in theory at least – to have a game that’s a form of a play-off or whatever you want to call it. If we did play Wales and they beat us fair and square, then we’d regroup until we got the opportunity again.
Georgia played at the 2023 Rugby World Cup and want more chances on the big stage
Georgia, who are coached by England’s Richard Cockerill (pictured), hope they will get their chance after jumping above Wales in the world rankings
‘Opportunity is what we’re after. If Portugal won Rugby Europe and not us, they should be offered the same chance. It’s not just about Georgia saying: “Give us a place in the Six Nations or make it a Seven Nations or whatever”. We need to improve as a rugby nation.
‘But we’re not going to do that in Rugby Europe. Of course we want to play in the Six Nations. It would take us a while to get used to the quality of the Championship. It would be very difficult for us in the first instance. My first preference would be to have a play-off.
‘The sums of money involved if Georgia were to be in the Six Nations – even if it was only for one year – would be game changing for what we could provide to our national set-up.’
Cockerill has been living in Tbilisi and coaching Georgia – as well as the country’s domestic side Black Lion – for the last 18 months. His contract has been extended up to the end of the 2027 World Cup in Australia. Georgia’s target is to qualify from their pool.
A potential meeting between Georgia and Wales could, in theory, take place this summer prior to Wales’ two-Test tour of Japan.
Wales’ long winless run has seen Warren Gatland depart as coach and be replaced for the rest of the Six Nations by Matt Sherratt on an interim basis.
Cockerill described the Switzerland game as a ‘mismatch.’
He added: ‘It’s not ideal because when people look at scores like that, they think “What’s the point?” That’s the hard thing. If we played Wales, it would definitely be competitive.
Matt Sherratt (pictured) is currently in interim charge of Wales after Gatland’s departure
Cockerill is fed up of being involved in ‘mismatches’ and wants Georgia to step up to the highest level
‘They’re in a difficult place for whatever reason. If you looked at both teams on paper, you’d say they should beat us. But it would be great for us to have the opportunity.
‘I get why they (Wales) wouldn’t want to give us that. Why would you and put yourself in a scenario where you could lose? But Italy have done that when they didn’t have to.
‘They lost to Georgia in 2022 and look at them now. They’ve become a very good side and are competitive in the Six Nations. It’s a bit of a lose-lose for Wales.
‘But jeopardy is what sport is about, isn’t it? I think it would be an interesting game for the rugby world if we did play against each other.
‘We’d see if all the noise we’re making is valid.’
