DRUG CHIEFS MAY PROBE MO
WORLD RUGBY CHIEF WANTS SIX NATIONS SIDES IN A GLOBAL CHAMPIONSHIP
WORLD Rugby vicechairman Agustin Pichot is not giving up on his plan for a Nations Championship and urged the Six Nations to return to the table for talks.
The sport’s governing body wants to revamp rugby’s global calendar with the introduction of a new competition for the top 12 teams from the northern and southern hemispheres.
It was hoped a Nations Championship could launch in 2022 with the top-two sides contesting a final, but the prospect of promotion and relegation was unpopular with Six Nations unions.
The proposal was scrapped in June, but ambitious former Argentina scrumhalf Pichot (right)
SIR MO FARAH could face scrutiny after the World Anti-Doping Agency said it will “look at” athletes who trained under Alberto Salazar.
The banned American coach was found guilty of doping violations earlier this year after a four-year investigation by the United States Anti-Doping Agency.
The Nike Oregon Project, where Salazar worked with his athletes, has since been closed down. WADA remains convinced such a tournament is the right way to develop the game globally.
“I understand the Six Nations. They have a successful tournament and it’s very commercially sustainable,” said Pichot, speaking after the World Cup ended.
“What we have to do is convince them we all have to be together – north and south – for the better of the game.
“Hopefully something will come out of the project and I’m confident something will happen. I’m very positive. “The Six Nations has some logic, but we have to be more magnanimous and try to make something better for the game. The Nations Championship would have been put in place
as a pathway for teams to be in the top 12 in the world. The idea is to give structure.
“It didn’t happen unfortunately and now we have a good challenge to see what is going to be next.”
As a player Pichot, 45, helped Argentina emerge from nowhere to become a rugby force and starred at the 2007 World Cup. In his role with World Rugby, he wants to remove boundaries.
He is keen for Japan to join new champions South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina in the Rugby Championship after the Brave Blossoms made the quarter-finals for the first time.
“Even with an earthquake and a typhoon it was still an amazing World Cup. Japan did everything well,” added Pichot.
“I strongly believe Japan can be part of the Rugby Championship. I said it three years ago and I say it now.” president Sir Craig Reedie said: “We have the right to look at the accusations against Salazar, but in particular we would be interested to see if there is any onward issue as far as the athletes are concerned.”
Four-time Olympic champion Sir Mo (right) trained with Salazar in Oregon between 2011 and 2017.
He has never failed a drugs test and strongly denies ever breaking anti-doping regulations.