THIS

Friday is the deadline for all unions to return letters to World Rugby indicating their intention to support the Nations Championship concept. That won’t happen, because it involves profound changes to the status quo. The Six Nations bloc are set to turn their backs on the plan, to avoid the introduction of promotion and relegation in the annual championship. They like their cosy club the way it is. The north-south financial gulf will now widen and the Tier 2 nations will be further alienated. This is a sport in which the ‘haves’ show no interest in supporting the ‘have-nots’, for the greater good.