Six Nations in need of relegation to stay relevant

WORLD Rugby’s plans for a Nations Championship/ World League are in the balance as the two most ‘old guard’ Unions in the Six Nations, Scotland and Ireland, are opposed to the promotion and relegation in the new structure. There is a deadline of March 29 for the £5billion over 12 years Nations Championship/ World League offer tabled by Swiss-based sports marketing firm Front Sports to be accepted. They are not the only players in town. The Six Nations Unions have had their heads turned by a £100m for 30 per cent broadcast rights counter-offer by private equity firm CVC, who recently bought a 27 per cent shareholding in Premiership Rugby. Not only are the Scots and Irish likely to favour it, but with France in decline and Italy stuck in the Six Nations basement, both Unions have also indicted it is their preferred offer. The Nation’s Championship/ World League is supported by the SANZAAR nations – South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina – and also Japan, with England and Wales open to it. However, because Unions must not only forfeit their right to negotiate other broadcast deals under the World Rugby plan, and also agree to promotion-relegation, there is every chance the Scots, Irish, French and Italian bloc will veto the Six Nations joining it. If so, they could regret it. The Six Nations is in danger of becoming a twotier tournament, with Wales, England and Ireland in the top tier, and France, Scotland and Italy on the ground floor. The less competitive the Six Nations becomes the more fans will switch off. The magic ingredient to ensure tournaments remain competitive is promotionrelegation, but some Unions want their sporting world to be bland.