This can be a catalyst for women’s game

We are still no closer to knowing what CVC’S share in the Six Nations means for women’s rugby. Indeed, when pressed about this very matter yesterday, Ben Morel, the tournament’s chief executive, almost appeared to make a mental note to himself that the women’s championship actually exists.

“It is important not to forget that, because it is a wonderful opportunity,” Morel said of the women’s game. “It is obviously a key focus of mine. We have paid a lot of attention to it. This should be a catalyst not just from a central Six Nations level but also for the community game in all our nations.”

On that basis, CVC’S partnership might possibly be the most sorely-needed catalyst in the history of women’s sport, never mind rugby. For years, Six Nations organisers have woefully undersold the tournament commercially.

Three weeks out from this year’s truncated 2021 edition, they still have not roped in a title sponsor, while broadcast deals have been another neglected area.

Rectifying both of these with the help of CVC’S commercial nous should be an obvious way to set the women’s championship on the right path.

Morel played down the possibility of the men’s championship going behind a paywall. But with the likes of Sky Sports and Amazon already sniffing, could the broadcasting scuffle that is set to unfold in the men’s competition inadvertently pave the way for the Women’s Six Nations to have a much talked about regular slot on free-to-air TV? We can live in hope.

The Rugby Football Union has tentatively identified the community women’s game as one of the ways in which to invest some of the £95million it will receive in CVC capital over the next five years.