SIX NATIONS CLOSING IN ON TV DEAL

TALKS between the Six Nations about a new TV deal for the tournament and autumn internationals are understood to be at an advanced stage, with the unions calling it ‘Project Light’. But pooling the broadcasting rights of the six teams’ home matches would spark bitter reprisals from Southern Hemisphere unions, with leading rugby countries such as Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina complaining that their northern counterparts are not considering the best interests of the world game. The fallout could even prompt southern powerhouses to threaten to boycott their autumn tours of Europe. As one source told Sports

Agenda: ‘Good luck to them trying to sell matches against Fiji, Japan and Romania.’