Move Six Nations to the summer says Gerald Davies
The revered former Wales and Lions threequarter urges the change to be made in the best interests of players and fans. His call for a ‘full debate’ among all six countries comes barely a month before the Six Nations council meets to vote on a recommendation from its ‘strategic committee’ that the tournament remains in its February-March slot.
It also comes amid deadlock over talks on a global season with no sign of the impasse being broken before the deadline in November. The All Blacks have already given the rest of the world an ultimatum that they will go their own way and promote their own Test matches unless they get their way which means foisting a February-November season on the four home countries.
Davies, back in rugby as chairman of the Guinness Pro12 following his resignation from the board of the Welsh Rugby Union, makes it clear he is expressing a personal opinion.
“The Six Nations should be the peak of the European season so why not reschedule it and make it the grand finale?” he said. “The question needs to be asked: ‘Would it not be a good idea to shift the tournament back to the end of the domestic season?’
“The season is broken up on so many weekends between domestic, European and international matches. You look at it and ask: ‘Shouldn’t there be a better way of doing it?’
“We should move the Six Nations back to April and May when everything else has been played. That would give the domestic competitions a free run without disruption from international calls. It would also bring clarity to the structure of the season.
“It has been said for many years that moving the Six Nations from February-March is non-negotiable. It may have been at one stage but the nature of the game has changed considerably and it will go on changing.
“People’s lives are also changing. We need to keep our minds open and embrace change for the better of our game.
“There should be a full debate and a decision taken on the basis of that debate. When I first raised the question of the Six Nations with board members, I did so in the context of our domestic season. The global season would no doubt throw up other options.
“The players should have a clear sense of their season. As it stands, they go from the Pro12 or the Aviva Premiership one Saturday, to European competition the next and an international match the Saturday after that.
“That’s not fair on the players. Nor is it fair on the coaches and the fans. I have asked why that cannot be discussed. It is well worth having a serious debate.”
Martin Anayi, the Pro12’s managing director, said: “We have to lobby very hard for a season which starts with the club game and finishes with the Six Nations. Gerald and I are discussing how we get our international players playing more often for their provinces and regions.
“A Six Nations in April-May would be fantastic. The season as it stands is too disjointed. We are going to have to play fewer games – quality over quantity and that’s something we are looking at for the Pro12. We are over-exposing international players in games that are friendlies.”
PETER JACKSON
