Next big rugby power – Russia

So who will it be?

There are the obvious suspects…. Georgia, Fiji, Romania, USA, Canada…. etc.

For me it is Russia. Why? They have a fledgling pro league. They have the population. They have the physique and they don’t need the 6 nations.

They sit in the perfect spot, they can play the European teams, they can play the Asian teams and they can play the North Americans travel isn’t a problem. Their only hinderance is the weather, even that can be worked around.

I think that they will qualify for the 2011 RWC. There, I’ve said it!