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French Rugby: Six Nations 'will take place'
By PA
France Rugby Federation president Bernard Laporte has insisted this season’s Guinness Six Nations Championship “will take place”. The World Rugby vice-chairman also said there will be an expanded coronavirus testing programme for the tournament, while each country will have “a Covid manager”.
France’s government is demanding reassurances on safety from England and Ireland before allowing its national side to visit those countries during the Six Nations. Only the tournament’s opening fixture against Italy in Rome on February 6 has been approved by Sports Minister Roxana Maracineanu.
The French authorities have concerns over the soaring number of coronavirus cases in the UK and Ireland and have already barred their clubs from taking part in European competition this month.
The Six Nations held talks with Parisian officials earlier this week, and discussions will be ongoing as organisers attempt to convince the government in France that sufficient coronavirus protocols are in place.
It is highly unlikely the tournament would go ahead without France, who play Ireland in Dublin on February 14 and England at Twickenham on March 13. But Laporte has moved to ease fears, stating in an interview with the franceinfo website: “I understand some are sceptical, but it will take place.
“Firstly, because we had during the autumn (Nations Cup) put in place a protocol which worked very, very well. The proof is that as soon as a team, in this case Fiji, were detected with Covid cases, they were out of the competition. It worked well.
“There is going to be a Six Nations protocol. Once again, all of this makes us very optimistic. We will go further, there will be even more tests. We adapt to the conditions, but it’s the same principle – a real health bubble. A lot of organisation, a lot of foresight, with a Covid manager in each nation. I repeat, it worked well in the autumn, it will work well during this Six Nations time.”
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Latest Comments
Bokke bokke Bokke
Go to commentsThe main thing you need on your side to win a World Cup is luck. ABs had their fair share of it in the 2011 final. One score game in the SF vs Springboks in 2015 means there always things you can look at and say if this thing or that thing happened then SA would/should have won that game. Smith’s try being called back broke protocol, but it was the correct decision, so I don’t have a problem with that. If it was an SA try called back in the same circumstances I don’t think many ABS fans would have a problem with it. Cane’s shot was high, it was the classic thing NZ players have been doing, and getting carded for for years - Walking around bolt upright trying to put a big hit on someone. Stupid play by someone with a poor disciplinary record. The one that was a big problem for me was Etzebeth’s obstruction. The referee just choked on this occasion. Frustrating to have the TMO in his ear all night, apart from at this moment. Minimum yellow card for Etzebeth, but a very strong case for a penalty try also. Despite all that the ABs had the opportunity to be ahead with 3 minutes to play, so it’s hard to point fingers too much. Pollard makes that kick 99/100. JB and RM make it 50/100. That’s what it came down to in the end.
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