Six Nations playing down expectations of imminent CVC windfall

SIX NATIONS organisers have moved to dampen the expectation that the competition is set for imminent major investment.

Days after French Federation chief Bernard Laporte said the body will receive €75m from CVC Capital Partners’ move for a 14.5 per cent share of the tournament, Six Nations confirmed the negotiations but said agreement was not close.

Laporte suggested that the French and English may secure a higher proportion of the investment than their Celtic and Italian partners due to the greater pulling power they hold with broadcasters.

Still, the money would be gratefully received by cash-strapped organisations which are dealing with the financial fallout of the Covid-19 shutdown.

The IRFU is set to resume negotiations with Rugby Players Ireland today to try and secure agreement on a reduction in pay.

Agreement with CVC, which has already bought into the English Premiership and the Guinness PRO14, would greatly boost the IRFU’s financial position.

Constructive

“Over the past year, Six Nations has been involved in exclusive negotiations with CVC Capital Partners. These negotiations have been very constructive and forwardthinking,” the statement read.

“Negotiations of this nature are complex. They can take significant time and at this point, are still ongoing.

“An agreement is not to be expected imminently and it would be inaccurate to present it as a formality.

“There is no set timeline for completion of this process, and any agreement, if it were to go ahead, would not be accelerated due to any potential challenge.”

Meanwhile, it looks like Ireland will be part of an eight-team tournament with the other

Six Nations, Japan and Fiji in November – after this year’s tournament is completed at the end of October.