Give Georgia chance to play with the best, urges Cockerill

RICHARD Cockerill has called on Six Nations bosses to give developing European nations the opportunity to compete in the elite competition.

- By BRENDAN MCGILLIGAN

Now head coach of Georgia, the perennial kings of Europe's second-tier competition, he believes opening the door to allow the Rugby Europe Championship winners to be promoted would only benefit the sport.

He told The Rugby Paper: "As a Georgian nation, we want the opportunity to earn the right to play in it, so if there was a playoff, it might be us, it might be Portugal or Romania, or Spain. One team will finish bottom of the Six Nations; all we are asking for is the opportunity to see if we can compete at that level.

"We want the opportunity to prove ourselves, and if we are not good enough, then that is fine; we will hopefully earn the oppor tunity again. It is as simple as that.

"One thing I learned about the Georgians is they are belligerent. Georgian rugby is not going away; they can keep ignoring us, but we will still be knocking at the door."

The Lelos are marching towards a 14th consecutive REC title after two comprehensive victories against Switzerland and the Netherlands.