Scotland chief eyes Six Nations re-start

SCOTLAND rugby chief Mark Dodson is hopeful this year’s Six Nations will still be completed in October, with the Scots facing Wales in front of supporters.

Sporting events are currently banned throughout the UK, with Wales’ First Minister saying they are a long way from returning as lockdown is eased.

But the WRU are still working to a best case scenario plan that would see the Dragon’s Heart Hospital currently on the site decommissioned before the autumn and social distancing rules relaxed to one metre, which would allow around 35,000 spectators to attend.

Scotland v Wales is one of four 2020 Six Nations matches that need to completed after they were called off because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Dodson told the Glasgow Evening Times: “I’m very hopeful that we’ll be able to finish this year’s Six Nations in the Autumn,” he said. “It’s important to everyone, and to the tournament itself. We’re very hopeful we can have crowds at the Six Nations and have a more normal Six Nations, because the idea of having it behind closed doors, or not at all, then we’re in a different world and a different level of fragility in terms of the finances.”

Dodson sounded less optimistic about southern hemisphere teams travelling across the globe for the autumn internationals, hinting at extra Tests against the other Six Nations unions replacing them.

“The issue around the Autumn Tests is crucial to us,” said.

“From where we stand at the moment, our presumption is that those Tests will go ahead behind closed doors until we’re told different from government.

“We’re working really closely with the Scottish Government, and we’re hopeful that we’ll be able to play with crowds for the Autumn schedule.”