Richard Cockerill, the former Georgia head coach, has revealed the shocking details of his dismissal, shedding light on the unique clauses in his contract. In an exclusive interview with Planet Rugby, Cockerill shares how one of these clauses, requiring him to never lose to a Tier 2 nation, ultimately led to his termination. As Wales struggles to avoid a 13th consecutive Six Nations loss, Cockerill also advocates for the winners of Europe's second-tier competition to have a chance at joining the championship.
Cockerill, 55, is back in England after his abrupt two-year tenure in Tbilisi, where he led Georgia to consecutive Rugby Europe titles without a single defeat. However, a last-gasp penalty loss to Japan in November meant he would have been preparing Georgia for a title defense against the Netherlands in Amsterdam. Cockerill's contract included two key performance indicators (KPIs): never losing to a Tier 2 country and beating a Tier 1 team in a calendar year. The latter clause, he notes, is problematic as you don't know who you'll be playing until you sign the contract.
Cockerill loved his time in Georgia, appreciating the warmth and hospitality of the people and the cosmopolitan feel of the capital city. He admired the resilience of Georgia's rugby community, which has consistently pushed against the locked door blocking their path to Europe's top table. Cockerill believes Georgians are just asking for an opportunity, and they've worked hard to get their game to where it is today, winning 13 of the last 14 Rugby Europe titles.
However, without a Six Nations playoff, there's no pathway to the top. Cockerill points out that 90% of Georgia's successful Under-20s program will go to France for rugby, money, and citizenship. He questions if rugby has let down Georgia, wondering where the mechanism is to prove they can compete. Cockerill believes that Georgia's joining the URC and playing more Tier 1 teams is the only way to develop Georgian rugby beyond its current state.
Despite his strong allegiance to those he worked with and the nation they represent, Cockerill's fate is no longer his responsibility. He has been linked with roles at Brive and Connacht but insists he has had no contact with the former and will not be applying for the latter. Cockerill will watch Scotland play England this weekend, knowing both camps, and believes that Scotland has a good squad but struggles when they start talking themselves up. He predicts that England should win because they're the better team, but Scotland might make the game messy enough for them to win.
