MARTIN HANNAN

though I’ve been in plenty that were full of balloons…

I’ve wanted a proper professional restart to rugby in this country for weeks now, and I have trusted the SRU to deliver it. They have worked with health experts and the Scottish Government and that is why we can anticipate some playing of PRO14 and league matches relatively soon, even with some fans in attendance, albeit socially distanced.

There’s a vast difference, however, between matches being played in front of a few people and full internationals played in front of thousands or even tens of thousands of fans. And don’t tell me that Scots will be entirely sensible and observe all the precautions all the time – a few bevvies and Scots are just as likely as anyone else to break the rules.

As I have written before, I know full well just how perilously close to extinction some clubs are, and certainly it’s going to take a long time to recover from the pandemic’s economic effects, but the SRU and other Home Unions have taken measures to ensure survival, albeit with income massively reduced.

If the tournament goes ahead, it should only do so with the approval of the Governments of all the participating nations. For the avoidance of doubt that means the Scottish, Welsh and both Irish Governments as well as Boris Johnson’s mob in London. If that means last minute decisions in late October then so be it – we just cannot take the risk of prolonging the pandemic.

I would love nothing more to see us play Wales to complete the Six Nations, then Japan and France at Murrayfield, and Italy in Rome. I could well imagine us topping the pool to set up a play-off against England, Ireland or Wales, and wouldn’t that be something?

Nevertheless, the whole kit and caboodle must be dependent on sufficient progress having been made before the tournament so that public health is not put at risk. I don’t see that happening at the moment, certainly not furth of these borders.

It’s too much jeopardy, too soon, and no life is worth pieces of eight.