Sam Warburton calls for Six Nations relegation match even if Wales get Wooden Spoon
Sam Warburton says there should be a relegation match in the Six Nations if Wales get the Wooden Spoon again this year.
After being hammered 43-0 by France in the opening match, Wales' game against Italy in Rome this weekend will most likely decide whether they win at all this tournament.
Speaking on the latest episode of the Rugby Union Weekly podcast, Warburton once again addressed the prospect of relegation. He has previously called for serial Rugby Europe Championship winners Georgia to be given the opportunity to play for a place at the top table.
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That suggestion came at a time when the Welsh team was much stronger and thoughts of Wales finishing bottom seemed a long way off. But, as Wales remain favourites for a second consecutive Wooden Spoon, he is standing by his beliefs, even though Six Nations relegation would spell financial disaster for the WRU.
"Elephant in the room," began Warburton. "I bet there's some people listening this podcast going - 'I bet you don't want a relegation battle now, Sam, do you?' - Because I said this when Italy had lost however many in a row - 'There should be a relegation play-off'.
"If you asked me now - 'What do you reckon now, Sam?' - absolutely (yes). I'm not sat on my perch here saying that Wales are untouchable. It would be brilliant TV. I know what people are saying now - 'You can't do that because it would ruin the game financially, if Wales go in to the second tier they'd have to go and play Portugal, Russia, Spain.'
"Yes, of course the financial drop-off is going to be massive. There might need to be some sort of balloon payment to help the big drop in earnings the next year. That would be catastrophic for regional rugby, I'm involved for regional rugby, the funding - it would be a disaster.
"But all I'm saying is that the drama and the opportunity for Georgia - because they've won it so many times - would be amazing. It would be amazing rugby. If Wales played Georgia in a play-off this summer, would you watch it?"
"Yes of course I would," answered host Ugo Monye.
"Massive game, massive game," continued Warburton. "I reckon that would get as many viewing figures as Wales v England - which, historically, on the BBC gets 8-10 million. English fans are going to be like - 'What's going to happen here? Are Wales going to do down?' - it would be a massive game.
"I just wanted to say that, in case there are people in their cars driving down, going - 'What do you think now, Warburton!?'"
In 2021, the last time that Wales won the Six Nations, Warburton had called for a Six Nations relegation play-off after the Azzurri were hammered 50-10 by France. At that point in time, Italy had not won a game in the competition since a 22-19 victory against Scotland in 2015.
"There’s got to be a change,” Warburton said on the BBC four years ago. "It’s not just throwing your toys out of the pram off one game. For quite a few years now Italy haven’t really been competitive. I personally think there’s got to be promotion and relegation in the Six Nations.
"Say if it was last year, Georgia, who won the second tier competition… We can’t keep putting a glass ceiling on these teams in Europe because otherwise how do we know what the growth in Europe is going to be like?"
Little did Warburton know at the time, Italy would get that all-important victory when they defeated Wales at the Principality Stadium a year after he made these comments. In 2024's tournament, Italy won two games and drew one, showing real signs of improvement.
At the end of the Six Nations last year, Warburton wrote in his Times column suggesting it was time Georgia were added to the tournament to create the 'Seven Nations', explaining why relegation may not actually be viable.
"I have long argued for a relegation play-off from the Six Nations and I still love the idea of that sort of jeopardy, but . . . and this is quite a big 'but' for which I know I will get a lot of stick: it is not going to happen," said the Wales legend in 2024.
Warburton went on the explain that despite the fact it would make for compelling sporting drama, there is one reason why relegation wouldn't work, and it comes down to England's involvement.
"England provides such a massive proportion of the viewing figures that, if they were to miss out on the Six Nations for a season, it would be catastrophic commercially," continued Warburton. "But the reality is that, even if broadcasters were in favour, no home nation is going to agree to a relegation play-off.
"Instead, the more viable option is to increase the tournament to seven teams."
Wales, of course, lost to Georgia at home for the first time back in 2022, and their head coach Richard Cockerill has continually called for his side to be given a chance to join the Six Nations.
