A relegation play-off could see Wales drop out on current form (Image: Getty/Express Sport)
Wales fans tuning into the action this weekend might want to savour watching the tournament in its current form because major changes, including a relegation play-off, are coming.
The six European nations – England, France, Italy, Ireland, Scotland and Wales – have competed against each other annually since 2000 when Italy were invited to join.
But that is all set to change in the future after major reforms were passed by the World Rugby Council in 2023.
A biennial competition featuring 10 teams from the Six Nations and Rugby Championship and another two nations is set to commence from 2026, which is set to be the catalyst for relegation to be introduced into rugby’s most prominent international tournaments outside of the World Cup.
What is the new tournament?
The tournament will feature all of the Six Nations countries as well as Rugby Championship teams South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina – collectively known as Sanzaar. Fiji and Japan are expected to be picked as the remaining two nations.
The Six Nations will remain in its current February-March position on the calendar and the Rugby Championship will still be played in August-September. The biggest change, however, will be the introduction of promotion and relegation through the introduction of a second tier.
For struggling teams such as Wales, it is a daunting prospect after they claimed the Wooden Spoon in last year’s tournament. And after a humiliating 43-0 thrashing by France in their opener, Warren Gatland’s side now face a crucial encounter with Italy in Rome this weekend to avoid succumbing to the same fate.
While no team would ever want to experience the humiliation of finishing bottom of the Six Nations anyway, throwing relegation into the mix will surely produce even more drama.
Georgia have challenged Wales to a match after their recent domination of non-Six Nations rugby (Image: Getty)
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Who could play in a Six Nations relegation play-off?
That is yet to be determined, but Georgia publicly challenged Wales to a fixture in Tbilisi after the Dragons finished bottom of the Six Nations last year.
The day after Wales’ fate at the bottom of the table was sealed, Georgia beat Portugal 36-10 to win their 17th Rugby European Championship title since 2000, with their coach Richard Cockerill claiming his side were “probably a little bit too good for this competition”.
Surprisingly, former Wales captain Sam Warburton has thrown his support behind the idea, even if it means his country are the ones that end up getting relegated.
“I said this when Italy were losing every year, there should be a play-off,” Warburton said on the Rugby Union Weekly podcast. “I’m not sitting here saying Wales are untouchable. It would be brilliant TV.
“I know what people will say… ‘it would ruin the game financially if Wales drop down, they’d have to play Portugal, , Spain’. Yes, the financial drop-off would be massive. Maybe there would need to be some sort of balloon payment to soften the blow. It would be catastrophic for regional rugby, I get that.
“But all I’m saying is the drama and the opportunity for Georgia – because they’ve won it so many times – would be amazing.”
Wales were thrashed 43-0 by France in their Six Nations opener (Image: Getty)
When will the Six Nations relegation play-off take place?
For the time being, there is no danger of Wales or any other nation falling out of the Six Nations and being relegated to the second tier.
While World Rugby are planning to create a Challenger Series that will serve as a second division to the new elite competition, that isn’t due to launch until 2026.
What’s more, play-off matches between the two competitions to decide promotion and relegation won’t be in place until 2030 and will only take effect in 2032 at the earliest.
But Gatland’s men will be keen to avoid any further talk of them being dragged into such a fixture by winning their next Six Nations game.