The World Rugby Nations Cup has always played an important role in the development of tier two nations during the four-yearly Rugby World Cup cycle and this year’s tournament is no different as the competing nations start thinking in terms of squad building ahead of Japan 2019.

With the World Rugby Tbilisi Cup taking a one-year leave of absence due to host nation Georgia’s tour of the Pacific Islands, the Nations Cup has been expanded to take in six teams instead of the usual four, as was the case when the competition first moved to Bucharest from Lisbon in 2007.

"SABÍAS QUE ...?"

La primer World Rugby Nations Cup se llevó a cabo en Lisboa, Portugal y la ganó Argentina A

“For World Rugby this tournament is part of a worldwide complex programme, which includes financial, technical and human resources, aimed at improving the standards of the elite game. The three RWC 2015 participants in the Nations Cup, Romania, Namibia and Uruguay, had a very successful tournament and their continuous development is critical to the success of the World Rugby High Performance Programme,” said Philippe Bourdarias, World Rugby General Manager for Competitions.

OAKS PLAN TO STAND TALL

Defending champions Romania are paired with Emerging Italy and Spain in Pool B as they look to win their fourth title in the last five years. Jack Umaga’s inclusion in the Oaks’ squad is eye-catching, and not just for his surname. The Timișoara Saracens fly-half is set to make his international debut, after qualifying on residency, and will be hoping to make just as big an impact in the No.10 jersey as his predecessor Michael Wiringi did at last year’s tournament. Interestingly, the final day of the Nations Cup falls on Umaga’s 32nd birthday.

Romania captain Stelian Burcea was in determined mood at the competition's launch. “For us, this is business as usual,” he said. “It is an important tournament which we have won three times in the past, but we must make progress, and this is achieved through hard work and discipline. You play as well as you train and this is what (coach) Lynn Howells has brought to us, respect for our own work and belief in what we do in training.”

"Para nosotros es el comienzo de la campaña que buscará la clasificación a Rugby World Cup 2019 en Japón"

Jaime Nava, capitán de Españañ

With one eye on Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan, Emerging Italy’s mission will be to unearth more players of the calibre of Carlo Canna, whose exploits at last year’s tournament earned him a spot on the Azzurri’s England 2015 roster, while Spain will take encouragement from their performances in the European Nations Cup over the last couple of years.

“For us this is the beginning of the campaign to try to qualify for RWC 2019 in Japan,” said Spain captain Jaime Nava. “Some of our regulars have been unable to travel, so we have several talented youngsters whom we expect to perform well, to be able to challenge for starting positions in the 2017 Rugby Europe Cup. This is a fantastic opportunity for us to test ourselves at this level.”

ARGENTINA AIM TO GO ONE BETTER

Argentina XV, last year’s runner-up, are accompanied by RWC 2015 participants Namibia and Uruguay in Pool A. Los Pumas’ official second team won the inaugural Americas Rugby Championship earlier this year and recently put 87 points on Chile in the Sudamérica Rugby Cup.

“We have here a good mix of players - aspiring talent as well as a few experienced players who have played for the Jaguares and Pumas Sevens,” said Argentina XV coach Felipe Contepomi said.

Included in the Uruguay squad is Mario Sagario. Widely considered as Uruguay’s best forward from Rugby World Cup 2015, Sagario is coming off a successful season playing in the PRO12 with Munster. Los Teros manager Fabio Magno says the South Americans will be “looking to surprise their opponents” by playing the 15-man rugby philosophy preached by new coach Esteban Meneses.

KEY PREPARATION

Led by Blue Bulls’ forward Renaldo Bothma, Namibia can, if their performances in England at RWC 2015 are an accurate guide,expect to improve on last year’s winless campaign, when they finished bottom of the table with only 16 points scored across three matches.

“For us this is an important tournament, as we start to prepare to the next RWC cycle,” said newly-appointed Welwitschias captain Bothma, who is one of the several South African-based players in the Namibian squad coached by former Wales second-row Phil Davies.

The Nations Cup will be played over three rounds. Spain and Argentina XV have the honour of getting the 2016 edition underway, in the first of three matches at the stadionul National Arcul de Triumf on Thursday. This will be followed by Uruguay v Emerging Italy and Namibia v Romania.

The tournament will use the law trial of points scoring with six points for a try, eight for a penalty try (with no conversion taken) and two for a penalty, drop goal and conversion.