3rd tier teams

The IRB really needs to do something about these teams. Canada is probably one of the top 3rd tier teams in the world with Japan, and thier getting destroyed by a second rate second tier team in Samoa. A team that can compete with South Africa and Wales, who are both 1st tier teams. The gap between 1st and 2nd tier teams has been closed fairly well in the last little while but the gap between 2nd and 3rd tier teams is just to great IMO. The IRB needs to look into this, as well as the local authorities.

3rd tier teams who could really do well with a little help from the IRB and local authorities are Canada, Japan, Georgia, Romania, USA, Russia, and Fiji. I think that a tournament like the 6 nations, or RC between some of these teams would be a good start. I know the Islander teams play against each other, but I believe the IRB needs to involve the biggest three 3rd tier teams, Canada, USA, and Russia somehow.

Any thoughts?

 Not an IRB problem.

The fact of the matter is that Canada does not have any depth in players and no grassroots in young players.

To much Hockey and Molsons.

Unfortunately.

Agree canned rugby the IRB needs to think creatively and see what can be done about raising the standards of these sleeping giants.I was disappointed in the Canada pack which usually is pretty solid.

i agree with canrugby, the IRB do need to do more, but while they are moving at a snails pace, there have been signifcant improvments for lower tier teams, mainly with the PI teams and their intergration with the EOYT which in the past was never as prominent as it has been the last few years.
samoa, fiji, tonga, argentina are getting more and more gametime against quality opponents which is really good to see,

IRB could use a bit of ingenuity though in regards to the north america rugby though, maybe a TriNats between USA, russia and canda, the patriotic rivalry amongst those three smie even teams would help a lot.
it could be a financial issue though, so even if they weree to compete every two years, that would go along way into both building up rugby in the region and spreading the word in countries where other sports regin supreme.
 

@ Aurthur.

I do agree it's not fully up to the IRB, and that local authorities(whoever they are) need to push it a little bit as well, but at the end of the day it's the IRB that makes it happen.

@beeno.

Our pack was brutal!!! Our two biggest forwards, Jebb Sinclair, and Jamie Cudmore, weren't in the Lineup. It made us look really pathetic. Add those two with our Flanker Kleeberger, and the samoans may have been at least challenged.

This just underlines the Depth issues in the third tier Can. Missing Kleeberger Jebb etc.. makes a big difference for this team.

well its a case of the IRB trying to commercialise the 3rd tier teams more and try to get them into a more competitive enviroment against higher ranked teams more often and then as the system progresses thet issue of depth will look after it self as there is a bigger number of juniors and better development systems in place.

to be fair the likes of the USA and russia has massive amount of economic value and numbers they just lack solid competition. the likes of canada are not far off but letting the 3rd tier teams play against better opposing teams and drafting them into the major club comps will help build more depth and spread the game more.

The IRB is really more concerned with the top 10 nations and dont build or expand the game futher then they should really.