Howzat! NatWest set to back Six Nations

THE Six Nations is expected to announce a new title sponsor long synonymous with English cricket – NatWest.

After 14 years with RBS, tournament organisers are understood to have struck a deal with the bank which only last year became the principal partner of the England and Wales Cricket Board.

NatWest, title sponsors of the T20 Blast, are now set to extend their role into a six hit of a different kind with world sport’s oldest annual international competition.

As NatWest have been part of the Edinburghbased RBS group for almost 20 years, the Six Nations will be backed by a different horse from the same stable.

They come at a considerably reduced rate, as reported in The Rugby

Paper last week – £9m after the Six Nations committee rejected RBS’ final offer of £56m over four years. Talks to secure a deal with NatWest beyond this season are still taking place.

Sources in France claim that organisers have had informal talks with Mohed Altrad, the billionaire owner of Montpellier who runs the largest scaffolding empire in Europe.

A Syrian from Raqqa, Altrad is rapidly becoming the single most influential power-broker in French rugby.

He has offered to pay the French Rugby Federation €100m – €60m as the national team’s sponsor until 2023 with the remaining €40m invested into a long-term development project.

Opposition from other Top 14 clubs concerned about one of their own sponsoring the national team has forced the FFR to delay a decision.

That, according to one high-placed source, alerted the Six Nations to Altrad, right, in their ambitious search for a title sponsor willing to pay £100m over six years. Altrad, the son of a Bedouin tribesman, is also a major driving force behind the French bid to host Rugby World Cup in 2023.

Earlier this year Premier Rugby blocked Altrad’s bid to buy a controlling interest in Gloucester amid concerns of a conflict of interest. The Montpellier president withdrew his offer after being limited to 20 per cent, claiming: “Rugby in general is the biggest loser.’’

The Welsh Rugby Union are also understood to have spoken to Altrad about becoming their shirt sponsor.

Those discussions came to nothing and Wales have since signed up the Japanese auto giant Isuzu.