The IRB have been trying to generate interest in the game around the world, and also to help the second and third tier nations get higher quality regular games at international level to increase skill levels, intensity, and obviously to generate a bit of national pride.

Top of the list of these is the Churchill Cup. Annually played in North America, it is usually contested between England Saxons, Canada, USA, Argentina A and other tier 1 A teams, this year including Ireland A the eventual winners of the cup itself. The crowds in North America have not, however, been much to write home about, and it seems as if this particular tournament has lost a little bit of its sheen. How does one breathe a bit of life into it?

Well, the fact that it's had someone different winning it this time might help. The Irish team apparently dismantled Stuart Lancaster's Saxons team in the final, and it shows that Ireland's provincial system really does seem to be producing talented players who can make in in the international context. With the Saxons having won the previous two years, seemingly at a canter, this result could've been just what the doctor ordered. And with Mike MacDonald's USA team getting one of the consolation trophies, the locals had something to cheer.

In a similar vein, there is also the regular annual Pacific Nations Cup, fought between the island rugby nations of Tonga, Fiji and Samoa, with the Junior All Blacks, a Japan team and until this year, Australia A. In 2009, the ARU pulled out of the tournament, citing the economic slowdown as a reason for not assembling a junior Wallabies side. It is perhaps this same economic downturn that has caused the tournament to require less travelling for the participating nations, with the matches being hosted almost entirely this year in Fiji for a seventeen day festival of rugby, the exceptions being the first two matches of the tournament.

These two matches were excellent affairs; a narrow win for the JABs 17-16 over Samoa at Apia and a relatively easy win for Fiji 36-22 over Tonga. Japan's first taste of action this year was a tough encounter with Samoa where they went down 34-15, while the Junior All Blacks gained some momentum with a stonking 45-17 victory over the home side Fiji.

In the short history of this tournament, only New Zealand sides have ever won it (the New Zealand Maori team were representing the country in 2008) and it could perhaps be argued that - as in the Churchill Cup of late - it's getting a bit monotonous. However what makes it different is that all the countries involved in the tournament are passionate rugby nations - yes, even Japan - and that they will continue to do battle and hope one day to take it away from the JABs.

The other showcase for emerging talent was the U20s World Championship, held every year in a single location a la the Rugby World Cup, and this time there is no second-string nature to the competition. Each participating nation sends its age-group qualified best players, and in a repeat of last year's encounter in Wales, it was England versus New Zealand in the final, held in Japan. In a repeat of the result as well, the Baby Blacks beat a combative and resourceful England side; the downfall of the boys in white being the sheer brilliance of the New Zealanders' back division.

So there are annual tournaments a plenty, which means for the stay-at-home fan there is always an international match to look forward to, regardless of how hot the summer sun is in dear old Blighty. What it does mean though, is that there is some regular representative rugby for these lower level rugby playing nations, and it is hoped that in time these competitions, or at any rate their successors, will become as prized as the Six Nations in the north or the Tri-Nations in the south.

But the big unsolved question is: What about Argentina?

View a Printer Friendly version of this Story.

Bookmark or share this story with:

• Digg
• Delicious
• Facebook
• Reddit
• Stumbleupon