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'Inaccurate speculation': Upset Six Nations issue statement about 4 Nations rumour

By Online Editors
(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Six Nations officials have finally stuck their head above the parapet amid the Covid-19 crisis, reprimanding sections of the media for what they describe as inaccurate speculation relating to the potential staging of a ‘Four Nations’ competition in November that would exclude France and Italy.

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With rugby around the globe currently at a standstill and the July Test programme now postponed following the outbreak of the virus that prevented the conclusion of the 2020 Guinness Six Nations in March, the sport has been awash with rumours as to how rugby could play out at international level next October and November. 

There is even speculation that the Six Nations are now seemingly amenable to talks about in future delaying the traditional February start of their annual tournament to facilitate the formulation of a global calendar in conjunction with the southern hemisphere’s Rugby Championship. 

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Fijian legend Nemani Nadolo talks about his impending switch from Montpellier to Leicester

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Fijian legend Nemani Nadolo talks about his impending switch from Montpellier to Leicester

One of the rumours regarding 2020 has been the idea of staging a mini Six Nations along the lines of the old Four Nations that was played before France and latterly Italy were allowed to participate. 

This notion came about amid fears that travel restrictions could still be in place next November, preventing the usual tours to Europe of the likes of the All Blacks.   

However, this idea of the home nations excluding their European colleagues has forced the Six Nations to react, dismissing the idea that a Four Nations is on the agenda for later this year. 

In a statement, Six Nations said: “Six Nations, together with its constituent unions and federations, is fully committed to completing the 2020 Guinness Six Nations Championship and hopes to stage postponed matches later this year.

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“In exploring rescheduling options, the health and safety of players, associated staff and of course supporters is our number one priority and any rescheduled matches will be subject to government guidance and to travel restrictions between countries. 

“Six Nations remains in close contact with all relevant authorities to ensure these matches can take place in a safe environment. 

“Six Nations and its constituent unions and federations continue to work closely with World Rugby, the southern hemisphere unions and all other rugby stakeholders on contingency plans regarding autumn Internationals and the recently impacted summer tours. 

“The current situation is fluid and fast-changing with countries at different stages in battling this pandemic. We anticipate it will take a few more weeks before the situation becomes clearer and we can present more definitive options in which to resume activity.”

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Four matches from the 2020 tournament are still to be played, the round four meeting of Ireland versus Italy in Dublin along with the entire round five schedule of Wales vs Scotland in Cardiff, Italy vs England in Rome and France vs Ireland in Paris.

England currently top the table on points difference from France who had their Grand Slam hoped dashed by their round four loss at Scotland on March 8. 

 

 

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Jon 8 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

This is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?

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j
john 11 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

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