Former United States head coach Gary Gold has slammed the new Nations Championship for locking out tier-two nations by not adding a progression system until at least 2030.
“It is utterly and totally ridiculous. It is not progressive at all,” Gold told City A.M. “When the accusations come towards the powers that be of them being an old boys’ club trying to look after themselves, it is difficult not to believe that is the case. It seems like the boys’ club is looking after the boys. I cannot see another explanation to this. It is just nonsense.
“There are teams like Romania, the United States, Canada, Spain and Uruguay who have big ambitions and want to grow. And they’re not going to grow, this is the bottom line. Playing Fiji, Tonga and Canada [for Tier Two] nations is all fair and well, you will get better, but you’re not putting yourself in a position to significantly improve. It is scandalous. I read something where Nick Easter [former England No8] said rugby was one of the worst-run sports in the world and I am struggling to disagree with him.”
