If rugby clubs were nations of the world, who would they be?

Monday, 08 January 2018 at 15:40

bySteven Smith

One is a big game, full of rival entities looking to attack and overtake each other. The other is Rugby Union.

But if our sides were sovereign states, which ones would they be? What happens when you combine clubs and countries and look for the best match in each case? Does it matter?

Absolutely not. But here at RUCK we're risking an international incident by mapping rugby clubs to flags. We've thrown in London Irish too.

Leicester Tigers - United Kingdom

There was a time when they reigned supreme and had no equal, and perhaps, as a result, there is a compulsion to hark back to when they were still invincible. But things change and it's not always obvious where they belong in the new world order. Currently in crisis. Nevertheless, they still have very loyal supporters, who back them through thick and thin.

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Bath Rugby - Canada

Another great player on the international stage that hasn't really punched its weight for a while. For too long they've just kind of been there, a key member at the top table without any real impact. But recently they've installed an enigmatic new leader who has charmed and captivated the world. They're hoping to climb the table soon.

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Exeter Chiefs - China

A relatively new economic power, but their people are always keen to stress a proud and ancient tradition. There is a fear amongst their main rivals is that they could run away with things in the near future after an eye-catching 2018.

Harlequins - France

Refined, a joy to behold and aesthetically pleasing, but show the same fight as the French did in 1940 when they travel north.

Newcastle Falcons - Scotland

Stuck up north but remains relevent in the larger picture.

Sale Sharks - Georgia

Not the most exciting, but consistently punch well above their weight to hold their own with the big boys. Very abrasive, vocal leaders also stand out, sometimes not for the better.

Gloucester Rugby - Austria

They have a lovely home and their people have a fantastic tradition. They were once a real power in the land. They are slowly beginning to revive...

London Irish - Thailand

Known for making and exporting goods. Lots of good things seem to leave the country these days, but annoyingly for them they can't seem to hold onto their prize assets. Lower quality than in the past.

Worcester Warriors - Norway

They could only be the Scandinavian country, which has produced so many great Warriors down the year. Not the biggest country, but they always stand up to the fight and are definitely not scared of a hard days work.

Wasps - UAE

Has used its increased resources to improve facilities and infrastructure in recent times to boost its power. They've now quickly become a powerhouse with a number of expensive purchases helping them stand out amongst the crowd.

Northampton Saints - India

They have few rivals when it comes to history and culture, but for so long a combination of circumstances and terrible mismanagement kept them down. They will hopefully have a fresh start soon...

Saracens - USA

They've set the benchmark for the last couple of years and see themselves as the game's only superpower. However, despite being full of stars, they've struggled to maintain their dominance as of late.

Bristol Bears - Republic of Ireland

Funny how things change. It wasn't long ago that they were ignored and even reviled by outsiders. But these days they punch far above their weight and everyone seems to love them.