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International classification
Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2019 11:42 am
by big mervyn
Somebody said that Japan are effectively a Tier 1 international side at the minute. What are the criteria for promotion to official Tier 1 status? Is it restricted to teams that play in the 6N or the Southern hemisphere Championship?
Re: International classification
Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2019 8:56 pm
by Neill_M
Seems to be unofficial, anyone in 6N/Rugby Championship Tier 1
Re: International classification
Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2019 9:41 pm
by big mervyn
Neill_M wrote: ↑Sun Oct 13, 2019 8:56 pm
Seems to be unofficial, anyone in 6N/Rugby Championship Tier 1
Anyone else who has appeared in the RWC finals is Tier 2.
Re: International classification
Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2019 9:59 pm
by Hapax Legomenon
Japan are several notches above Italy. The flip side of that is that Italy excelled for a few years and once they were elevated to tier 1 they went backwards quickly and became the whipping boys of the 6N. Japan have a much better base to build on than Italy had and I suspect they will kick on.
Re: International classification
Posted: Sun Oct 13, 2019 10:24 pm
by solidarity
A place in the Championship must be on the cards. Anyone know what the player base is like in Japan? If it's too small, that might be their undoing.
Re: International classification
Posted: Mon Oct 21, 2019 1:40 pm
by Vanhelsing
Hapax Legomenon wrote: ↑Sun Oct 13, 2019 9:59 pm
Japan are several notches above Italy. The flip side of that is that Italy excelled for a few years and once they were elevated to tier 1 they went backwards quickly and became the whipping boys of the 6N. Japan have a much better base to build on than Italy had and I suspect they will kick on.
that's just by their WC matches,Italy are better in my mind.
Re: International classification
Posted: Mon Oct 21, 2019 2:07 pm
by big mervyn
The challenge for Japan would be maintaining that sort of form home and away under normal international conditions i.e. club commitments and limited squad time - and neutral referees.
Re: International classification
Posted: Mon Oct 21, 2019 2:36 pm
by Neill_M
Seems there is a SANZAAR (Guys who run Super Rugby/Rugby Championship) meeting in Tokyo on Friday. Japan's possible entry in RC along with a decision whether to keep the Sunwolves in SR now could be on the agenda.