2008: A year of Rugby. Part 1

2008 A year of Rugby will follow in a number of parts as Rugbyinternational looks at rugby around the world at the international level.

Part 1: What is GWC Rugby Rankings?

My Rugby Ranking system is simplicity to a fault. It's so easy it defies all the technically enhanced computer generated systems led of course by the IRB Ranking System.

The IRB System is now so respected that it determines the placings of the top Rugby nations for the 2011 Rugby World Cup. That seeding system was completed with the 2008 November round of international rugby tests and the resulting draw for that tournament was made in early December.

The only real grizzle I have with such a system is that teams who never play each other are all ranked in together. For the top tier of nations that is not really a problem as they mostly play each other in a clalendar season. When you go beyond that level teams who never play each other are ranked together. To me that is just not logical.

So about 5 years ago I came up with a simple system of ranking nations in geographical groups, which is where most teams below the top tier play. So I grouped teams in the following areas.

Europe
North America
South America
Asia
Oceania
Africa

The rankings follow the old tennis ladder system. If you defeat a team above you on the ladder, you move to their position, and then all teams move down. If you draw with a team above you you go to the position imediately below, with all teams in between moving down.

The rankings are readjusted at the end of any tournament. In the 6 Nations tournament, if team No.1 is defeated by team No.6 in the last round there may not be a change if, on the points table there is no change. Small adjustments can be made.

All teams are ranked in their geographical zones, and then if they play a test match across the regions they then enter the World Table as well, which of course is the premier table. For example, both Hong Kong and Tunisia entered the World Table earlier in the year as they played two tests, home and away. Hong Kong is in the Asian zone whilst Tunisia is in the African. Brazil and Trinidad and Tobago also entered the World Table for 2008 because they played against each other in Rugby World Cup qualifying matches.

A team must play a test match within a calendar year to remain on any table. Teams drop out of the World Table for the same reason. No play, no gain.

The ladder philosophy is very simple. You are only as good as the last game you played.

You can view the completed GWC Rugby Ranking tables at www.rugbyinternational.net.

Post your views on the various ranking systems around. Post the links here and others can view and discuss. Look forwards to hearing from you.

Rugby Fixture: Monaco v Bosnia Herzegovina

11.10.2008
To be played at Stadium St Val d'Annaudin, Menton, near the tiny Principality of Monaco, situated in the sunny south of France. This match is not a 2011 World Cup qualifier.

Review
Monacan rugby has had a chequred history in the European arena. Twice, in 2002 and again in 2006, Monaco was excluded from European rugby competition due to playing inelligible players in their teams. Hopefully this is all behind them. Monaco lost to Cyprus 10-19 in Nicosia last October in the 3D tournament on that island.

Bosnia Herzegovina lost the ENC 3C-3D playoff to Israel recently and will be doing all they can to climb back into ENC 3C. On paper they look to be a class above the other teams at this level.

Previous Encounter
1998 Bosnia Herzegovina won 22-16 (FIRA B)

GWC Rugby Rankings: Europe Table-Bosnia Herzegovina 38th, Monaco 41st.

Prediction: Bosnia Herzegovina by 21 points.

Teams

Monaco Squad
1 Martini
2 Hernandez
3 Debruyne
4 Maceli
5 Jamal
6 Scezure
7 Mendez
8 Pansier J
9 Mora
10 Rique
11 Peluhet
12 Karel
13 Trocello
14 Costanzo
15 Louppe
16 Foued
17 Marinx
18 Cabioch
19 Laletin
20 Pansier M
21 Degrande
22 Guasco
23 Steel
Coach: Eric Fauer

http://www.monacorugby.com/Evenements.aspx?id=304
http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2869

Bosnia Herzegovina Squad
S. Ajanovic (RC Celik Zenica)
J. Ajkunic (SVI Rudar Zenica)
A. Basic (RC Celik Zenica)
L. Beso (RC Celik Zenica)
D. Cerim (RC Celik Zenica)
B. Deljkic (RC Celik Zenica)
A. Hajric (French Club)
D. Jovanovic (Richmond OBRFC, England)
S. Kadic (Niort, France)
A. Kapic (RC Celik Zenica)
B. Kapic (French Club)
A. Karabegovic (RC Celik Zenica)
D. Keserovic (RC Celik Zenica)
E. Musinovic (RC Celik Zenica)
E. Pojskic (RC Celik Zenica)
D. Razic (RC Celik Zenica)
E. Selimbegovic (RC Celik Zenica)
A. Smriko (RC Celik Zenica)
S. Subasic (KRBK, Serbia)
S. Tufekcic (RC Celik Zenica)
E. Tuka (SVI Rudar Zenica)
S. Turcinovic (SVI Rudar Zenica)
A. Vehabovic( PAC Pontilier, France),
Z. Vidovic (Zagreb, Croatia)
A. Zadic (RC Celik Zenica)
http://rugbylife.blogger.ba/
http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2869

Rugby Fixture:Greece v Finland

11.10.2008
Preview
Greece will be playing its first test match in ENC 3C after winning the ENC 3D tournament held in Cyprus last year. These two teams last met in 2006 when both were in ENC 3D, Finland having gained promotion in that year.

Finland lost their first home test match of the season last weekend to Luxembourg 19-27. The pressure is on the Finns to achieve the valuable home win as winning away is very difficult at this level of international rugby.

Last Five Encounters
14.06.2006 Finland 17-12 in Athens (ENC 3D)
27.05.2006 Finland 27-0 in Helsinki (ENC 3D)

GWC Rugby Rankings: Europe Table-Finland 35th, Greece 37th

Prediction: Finland by 14 points.

Teams

Finland
15. Lauri Ylönen (Helsinki Warriors RC)
14. Matthew Jordan (Helsinki Warriors RC)
13. Galen Rangiawha (Turku Eagles RFC)
12. Jaakko Vilen (Helsinki Warriors RC)
11. Lasse Sariola (Helsinki Warriors RC)
10. Thomas Finell (Helsinki Warriors RC)
9. Mikko Järvi (Capt.) (Tampere RC)
8. András Dévényi (Helsinki RFC)
7. Mauno Konttila (Tampere RC)
6. Erik Pekkola
5. Lasse Simpanen (Helsinki Warriors RC)
4. Stuart Reynish (Helsinki Warriors RC)
3. Micke Holmström (Tampere RC)
2. Semu Salmivalli (Tampere RC)
1. Juha Rainvuori (Helsinki Warriors RC)
Replacements
16. Tim Sampson (Helsinki RFC)
17. Sami Sarkki (Turku Eagles RFC)
18. Jani Lehtinen
19. Jussi Latvala (Helsinki Warriors RC)
20. Stephen Whittaker (Helsinki RFC)
21. Heikki Karimaa
22. Avea Avea
Head Coach: Jerker Grader
http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2868
http://rugbyliitto.sporttisaitti.com/tiedotearkisto/?num=13209

Greece
15-Michalis Loidzou (Athens RFC)
14-Alex Mentoros (Rhodes Colossuses RFC)
13-Giorgos Tsatsaronis (Athens RFC)
12-Vasilis Katsakos (Athens RFC)
11-Christos Fiotakis (Rugby Nice Côte d’Azur, France) *
10-Alexandros Gounaris (Attika Springbocks RFC)
9-Grigol Mshvldadze (Athens RFC)
8-Arfaras Pantelis (Rhodes Colossuses RFC)
7-Dimitris Papadatos (Athens RFC) *
6-Soteriades Philippos (Athens RFC)
5-Kostas Karandreas (Athens RFC)
4-Nikos Maureas (Athens RFC)
3-Vaggelis Nastas (Athens RFC)
2-Giorgos Kouroumichakis (Iraklis Thessalonikis RFC)
1-Eden Tipene (Attika Springboks RFC)
Replacements
16-Giorgos Sunetos (Athens RFC)
17-Giannis Tsagras (Athens RFC)
18-Nontas Serafeim (Attika Springbocks RFC)
19-Andreas Peribolaris (Athens RFC)
20-Giorgos Grabalas (Spartakos Thessalonikis RFC)
Head Coach:
http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2868

* Played in Greece’s first test match in 2005
Monaco v Bosnia Herzegovina in Menton (WCQ Europe, ENC 3D)

About rugbyinternational.net web site

You can link to my web site which covers international rugby data.
http://www.rugbyinternational.net/

Rugby Results by country
International rugby results for over 100 countries/nations

Rugby News archives
Month by month rugby coverage since April 2002

Rugby Rankings
World Rugby Rankings with a difference

Rugby Tournaments
Competition International rugby games

2007 Rugby World Cup
Match data sheets for all rugby matches played

Rugby results by year
Starts 1997 and from 2002 many rugby test match data sheets.

Match data sheet updates
Latest additions to international rugby match data sheets

Rugby Results by country Updates
Recent additions to country rugby results

The web site is undergoing reconstruction.