So apparently I was wrong about Romania needing a BP win ...
They were actually only 3 points behind (I think the table on the website was wrong).
A one point win put them level. Georgia had the better points difference but according to the rules, head to head is the deciding factor, so Romania won the championship.
However, no one explained that to whoever was running the show in Bucharest and they gave the trophy to Georgia!
I watched the end of the game but turned it off at the final whistle so I missed all the fun ... and it looks like they took the video down out of embarrassment.
I'd say the Georgians were in La La Land!

www.rugbyeurope.eu/precision-rec-ranking

I'd like one of the November internationally to be that play off the last one preferably as both teams can build to it.

For promotion/relegation to work with the 6 nations, I think they would have to have a play-off, rankings don't always tell the full story, Georgia and Romania have been playing against opposition that is far from their standard for years, Italy have been playing opposition who are far better, play-offs would go some way to avoid yo-yoing

Last round of this year's tournament (now renamed the Rugby Europe International Championships) concludes tomorrow.
Romania v Georgia will be the decider but with Romania currently 4 points behind and not well placed on points difference, I make it they need a try bonus.
Game is at 1pm Irish time and streamed live on the Rugby Europe website.
www.rugbyeurope.eu/rugby-europe-internat...4-romania-vs-georgia

Rugby Europe have made a formal approach to the Six Nations about introducing some kind of promotion/relegation process and with Georgia now a good way ahead of Italy in the world rankings and Romania not that far behind, they kinda have a point ...

(I had actually forgotten to even follow this tournament this year until there was a question in the Connacht Clan Table Quiz about it)

Georgia 2013 European Champion

Georgia is European Champion for 2013 after his important draw in Romania. The game was difficult, engaged and interesting till the end, without winner but with an European Champion: Georgia (better GA in pool games). Congratulations to Georgians who have perfectly negotiated the first championship for the RWC2015 Qualification.

In the others games of the ENC1A, Russia has beaten with difficulty the Belgians who had 2 bonus points before the last Russian try. 75 points in this game for the pleasure of Sotchi spectators.

9-9 between the Iberians "brothers", same score than in Romania. Spain and Portugal has shared the points under the rain in Santiago de Compostelle. The draw does not benefit to any country which will have to fight with the Belgians to avoid the relegation at the end of the season 2013/14.


SPAIN 9-9 PORTUGAL

RUSSIA 43-32 BELGIUM

ROMANIA 9-9 GEORGIA

connachtexile wrote: Do you know any good blogs for Georgian rugby Croket? In English obviously.

There is a very good topic on Fira Forum :
www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewforum.php?f=2

5 of the georgian pack play for the top 3 clubs in france. Wow! Says a lot about how they like their rugby over there. Maybe we should be looking to georgia for project players in future! And niq props.

Do you know any good blogs for Georgian rugby Croket? In English obviously.

Romania - Georgia :

Romania :
1.Mihaita Lazar (Castres Olympique)
2.Andrei Radoi (CSM Baia Mare)
3.Paulica Ion (London Welsh)
4.Vali Ursache (US Oyonnax)
5.Marius Sirbe (Tarbes PR)
6.Viorel Lucaci (Steaua Bucuresti)
7.Mihai Macovei (capt, Sporting Nazairien)
8.Daniel Carpo (RCM Timisoara)
9.Florin Surugiu (CSM Bucuresti)
10.Ionut Dimofte (Stade Rouen)
11.Adrian Matei (USA Limoges)
12.Florin Vlaicu (Steaua Bucuresti)
13.Robert Dascalu (Steaua Bucuresti)
14.Marian Apostol (RCJ Farul Constanta)
15.Catalin Fercu (RCM Timisoara)

16.Andrei Ursache (US Carcassonne)
17.Eugen Capatana (RCM Timisoara)
18.Horaciu Pungea (RCM Timisoara)
19.Alin Coste (Bourg-en-Bresse)
20.Alexandru Mitu (CSM Bucuresti)
21.Ciprian Caplescu (Dinamo Bucuresti)
22.Csaba Gal (CSM Baia Mare)
23.Ionut Nascu (CSM Baia Mare)


Georgia :
1.Vasil Kakovin (Stade Toulousain)
2.Jaba Bregvadze (Stade Toulousain)
3.Davit Zirakashvili (ASM Clermont)
4.Giorgi Chkhaidze (Tarbes PR)
5.Kote Mikautadze (RC Toulon)
6.Vito Kolelishvili (ASM Clermont)
7.Mamuka Gorgodze (Montpellier HRC)
8.Dimitri Basilaia (Edinburgh Rugby)
9.Giorgi Begadze (Batumi XV)
15.Lasha Khmaladze (Lelo Tbilissi)
14.Irakli Machkhaneli (capt, Armazi)
12.Merab Sharikadze (Hartpury College)
13.Tedo Zibzibadze (CA Périgueux)
11.Tamaz Mchedlidze (Stade Montois)
10.Merab Kvirikashvili (AS St Junien)

16.Irakli Natriashvili (CA Brive)
17.Zurab Zhvania (Stade Français)
18.Davit Kubriashvili (RC Toulon)
19.Levan Datunashvili (Stade Aurillacois)
20.Shalva Sutiashvili (RC Massy)
21.Vazha Khutsishvili (Kharebi)
22.Davit Kacharava (Stade Rodez)
23.Beka Tsiklauri (Lokomotiv Tbilissi)

scrum half

Vazha Khutsishvili, plays in Georgia but have a great potential too

What position does Khutsishvilli play?

Hopefully with the advent of 7's more backs will start coming through for these teams. Russia's funding has meant to have gone up for Rugby as they only sponsor Olympic sports and with 7's now an official Olympic sport it makes it easier for the rugby teams to get government funding. With Georgia making such strides I'm sure more kids will start taking an interest. It should be places like this that the IRB should be aggressively focusing on to build the sport of Rugby.

sea_point wrote: This encapsulates the challenge facing the developing countries, especially those where soccer is king. It's easy enough draw sufficient big men to rugby who can be hewn into decent forwards, but they are seriously struggling to produce backs anywhere near an equivalent quality (only one back playing above National 1 (France Tier 3) in the entire Georgian squad.

In fact there is an other winger professionnal (Sandro Todua from Albi, ProD2) but he was not called up since Irakli Machkhaneli was back as captain
You're right but there are some young promising backs, all born 1993, in the squad
Tamaz Mchedlidze started 5 Amlin Cup games this season and Toulon want to sign him
Merab Sharikadze, plays for Hartpury College in BUCS Championship, last year he played some games for Gloucester U19 and were at a trial in Montpellier in order to sign for the team next season
Vazha Khutsishvili, plays in Georgia but have a great potential too

Next generation (1994-1995) have a big potential, last year they won over Italy U18 during U18 european trophy

This year Georgia U18 preparing hard 2013 U18 trophy. Last month the team played v. London Wasps U18 and won easily 46-12. Now Georgia U18 have to play 2 games v. Heartpool College U18 and England U18.
First European U18 trophy game will be v.Ireland

RogueXV wrote:

sea_point wrote: This encapsulates the challenge facing the developing countries, especially those where soccer is king. It's easy enough draw sufficient big men to rugby who can be hewn into decent forwards, but they are seriously struggling to produce backs anywhere near an equivalent quality (only one back playing above National 1 (France Tier 3) in the entire Georgian squad.

It was really visible at the world cup where Romania and Georgia exclusively played 10 man rugby against the top tier nations and only really played any sort of expansive game against the other weaker nations.

I feel really passionate about seeing these countries being competitive sooner rather than later, but unless the IRB finds some way of assisting these nations in diverting more talent away from the round ball game then it'll only ever be a pipe dream...

If Italy is anything to go by I wouldn't hold my breathe. With all those soccer players you would think they could poach a good fly half every once in a while. But other than the Argentine they have not had anyone of note since rugby went pro. Admittedly their backs have improved over the years, but rarely is there someone to release them.

Yea but in fairness in Georgia and Romania there is nothing to compare with the glamour of Seria A, both Leagues are in the same coefficient group as the LOI in terms of number of teasm qualified to play in European competition - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_coefficient#League_coefficient

Despite some well known Club names across Europe the top league in Romania [Liga 1] has average attendances of just shy of 5000, which is just over double the mainly amateur/semi-pro League of Ireland.... www.european-football-statistics.co.uk/attn.htm

The scope is there especially Romania with a population of near 20 million. Georgia is pretty much the same size and population as Ireland...

sea_point wrote: This encapsulates the challenge facing the developing countries, especially those where soccer is king. It's easy enough draw sufficient big men to rugby who can be hewn into decent forwards, but they are seriously struggling to produce backs anywhere near an equivalent quality (only one back playing above National 1 (France Tier 3) in the entire Georgian squad.

It was really visible at the world cup where Romania and Georgia exclusively played 10 man rugby against the top tier nations and only really played any sort of expansive game against the other weaker nations.

I feel really passionate about seeing these countries being competitive sooner rather than later, but unless the IRB finds some way of assisting these nations in diverting more talent away from the round ball game then it'll only ever be a pipe dream...

If Italy is anything to go by I wouldn't hold my breathe. With all those soccer players you would think they could poach a good fly half every once in a while. But other than the Argentine they have not had anyone of note since rugby went pro. Admittedly their backs have improved over the years, but rarely is there someone to release them.

And while we're at it, only one referee from outside the 6 Nations was assigned to take charge of a European Nations Cup First Division (1A Group) game.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012-14_European_N...Division#Division_1A
European Nations Cup First Division

Definitely want to see more development of officials from the developing countries, this is a key driver for the standard of rugby improving domestically in each nation.

croket wrote:
Georgia extented squad :
Props : Vasil Kakovin (Stade Toulousain), Davit Zirakashvili (ASM Clermont), Davit Kubriashvili (RC Toulon), Mikheil Nariashvili (Montpellier HRC), Zurab Zhvania (Stade Français), Davit Khinchagishvili (CA Brive)

Hookers : Jaba Bregvadze (Stade Toulousain), Irakli Natriashvili (CA Brive), Rezo Belkania (Lelo Tbilissi), Shalva Mamukashvili (Army Tbilissi)

Locks : Konstantin Mikautadze (RC Toulon), Levan Datunashvili (Stade Aurillacois), Giorgi Chkhaidze (Tarbes PR), Lasha Lomidze (Montpellier HRC)

Back row : Dimitri Basilaia (Edinburgh Rugby), Mamuka Gorgodze (Montpellier HRC), Vito Kolelishvili (ASM Clermont), Shalva Sutiashvili (RC Massy), Beka Bitsadze (Army Tbilissi)

Scrum halves : Giorgi Begadze (Batumi XV), Vazha Khutsishvili (Kharebi)

Fly halves : Merab Kvirikashvili (AS St Junien), Lasha Khmaladze (Lelo Tbilissi)

Centres : Merab Sharikadze (Hartpury College RFC), Davit Kacharava (Stade Rodez), Tedo Zibzibadze (CA Périgueux)

Wings : Tamaz Mchedlidze (Mont-de-Marsan), Irakli Machkhaneli (Armazi)

Full backs : Beka Tsiklauri (Lokomotiv Tbilissi), Irakli Kiasashvili (Lelo Tbilissi)

This encapsulates the challenge facing the developing countries, especially those where soccer is king. It's easy enough draw sufficient big men to rugby who can be hewn into decent forwards, but they are seriously struggling to produce backs anywhere near an equivalent quality (only one back playing above National 1 (France Tier 3) in the entire Georgian squad.

It was really visible at the world cup where Romania and Georgia exclusively played 10 man rugby against the top tier nations and only really played any sort of expansive game against the other weaker nations.

I feel really passionate about seeing these countries being competitive sooner rather than later, but unless the IRB finds some way of assisting these nations in diverting more talent away from the round ball game then it'll only ever be a pipe dream...