Women’s Six Nations set to be postponed due to Covid-19 as doubts linger over men’s tournament
The Women’s Six Nations is set to b e p ostp oned as a result of the escalating coronavirus crisis at a time when u n c e r t a i n t y c o n t i n u e s t o hover over the men’s event.
To u r n a m e n t o rg a n i s e r s have been forced to concede defeat in attempts to stage the competition in its traditional Februar y and March window, with April and May now pencilled in as an alternative, it is understood.
The challenges over holding it alongside the men’s Six Nations, which is due to start on February 6, appear insurmountable.
Only England are fully professional, with France semiprofessional and the remaining sides mostly amateur, c r e a t i n g d i f f i c u l t i e s o ve r testing and bubbles at a time when lockdowns are in place across Europe.
A schedule had yet to b e published and the announcement is expected this week.
There is still hope that the men’s competition will take p l a c e a s p l a n n e d , d e s p i t e Fr a n c e f a c i n g a p o s s i b l e travel ban from their gov - ernment.
Organisers are attempting to convince French authori t i e s t h a t i t c a n b e p l aye d safely, even allowing for the g r o w i n g n u m b e r o f C o v - i d -19 c a s e s c a u s e d b y t h e new strain first discovered in Kent.
T a l k s b e t w e e n t h e S i x Nations, unions and French government will be ongoing throughout the week.
It comes as the fate of the European Champions and C h a l l e n g e C u p s h a n g s i n t h e b a l a n c e a f t e r t h e To p 14 teams were “invited” by Paris to cease cross-boarder competition. Next weekend b egins the first of the pool stage’s final two rounds and tournament organisers European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) will discover early this week what course of action France’s clubs will take.
If they withdraw, the EPCR is likely to temporarily suspend the competitions.
“We are working hard to h o l d t h e t o u r n a m e n t a s scheduled in each countr y, with Covid protocols further reinforced from the October to November period that saw the successful conclusion of the Six Nations 2020 and the Autumn Nations Cup,” a Six Nations spokesperson said.
•Paddy Jackson landed a tricky conversion in the final mi n u t e t o r e s c u e L o n d o n Irish a 27-27 Gallagher Premiership draw at The Stoop yesterday that extended Harlequins' victor y drought to over a month.
Oli Hoskins celebrated his 10 0 t h a p p e a r a n c e f o r t h e E x i l e s by c r o s s i n g f o r t h e 78t h - mi n u te t r y t h a t g ave Jackson the opportunity to secure a share of the spoils, complete with a try-scoring bonus point.
Fo r m e r I r e l a n d f l y - h a l f Ja c k s o n h a d a s t o p p a g e - time chance to snatch victor y from a penalty won by replacement flanker S ean O'brien but his long-range kick drifted wide of the right post.
It was a major setback for Quins, who at one point led 2 7-1 5 w i t h M a r c u s S m i t h the ringmaster as his team closed in on the end of their three-match losing streak.
The fly-half ran in one tr y a n d s ave d a n o t h e r wi t h a critical tackle.
Smith also kicked 12 points i n a l i ve l y L o n d o n d e r b y that saw both teams return from coronavirus-enforced breaks, the Exiles' absence spanning two matches.