Rugby is experiencing an explosion of participation and popularity throughout the Americas, one that is expected to see considerable growth from the Olympics. This is true both in terms of established rugby countries and those in their infancy. To better understand the current situation it is useful to define a tiered classification system of Americas rugby similar to that utilized by World Rugby.
According to World Rugby characterization the Americas, presently, has Argentina as a Tier 1 rugby nation, Canada and the USA as Tier 2 nations and all others as Tier 3.
The definitions adhered to by the sport’s global governing body are highly explanatory for Rugby World Cups, both in terms of participants and results. In Rugby World Cup 2015 the four sides who were winless were Canada, Namibia Uruguay, and the USA. Of them two were the only two Tier 3 nations involved.
Back in Rugby World Cup 2011 it was identical. The four winless teams on that occasion were Japan, Namibia, Romania, and Russia. Again, Japan and Romania are considered Tier 2 by World Rugby while Namibia and Russia are Tier 3.
Ongoing work within certain countries is actively building towards some completing the transition to obtain a higher status. Japan is a well documented case in point while Canada, Georgia, Romania and the USA have their own road maps to follow.
Making the leap from Tier 3 to Tier 2, meanwhile, is Uruguay. The South American republic has established a national high performance system and has been highly successful in gaining a significantly improved international program. The URU is even on record as stating that it has applied for Tier 2 status.
Further down signs of significant progress are highly visible in a number of countries including Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Paraguay. None of them, however, will be able to achieve Tier 2 status for many years. Within the Americas, though, all ought to be classified in the same bracket as the continent’s four participants in Rugby World Cup 2015.
Americas Tier 1
Equals need not be interpreted as abilities on the field or their existing status in global terms. Rather they ought to be viewed as meriting Tier 1 status in the Americas due to them having both full World Rugby membership status and regional membership with Rugby Americas North or Sudamérica Rugby.
Bermuda is in Tier 1 as a World Rugby member since 1992. Bermuda claimed the 5th place spot with the 20-7 win over Turks & Caicos at the recently concluded Rugby Americas North (RAN) Superweek. The Bermuda’s squad showed good depth—a result of the country’s Beyond Rugby program and the long-running Sunday youth rugby program. Both have generated a combination of talent and experience, and they may soon climb back to the top of the tournament standings.
All countries in the Americas who are full World Rugby members are also ratified members of either Rugby Americas North or Sudamérica Rugby. This provides them with a superior organizational structure than others. Take Peru and Ecuador as instances with the former being a World Rugby member and the later a Sudamérica Rugby member yet to obtain World Rugby status.
This distinction is highly useful to better understand Americas Rugby both at the present point in time and in moving forward. It will act as an important guide for long-term developments such as the establishment of a second division to the Americas Rugby Championship.
As a starting point the good news is that the number of Americas Tier 1 unions is large and it is growing steadily.
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