Grand Slam decider could be in Rome

13 April 2012

England are calling for their potential Six Nations Grand Slam decider against Ireland to be diverted to a neutral venue on the Continent, with Rome a likely choice.

The RFU put its recommendation to the organisers yesterday as a 'last resort' proposal aimed at averting the growing danger of the championship having to be abandoned for only the second time in 118 years.

Ireland, forced by their government to postpone the England match scheduled for Dublin on Saturday week, are naturally opposed to surrendering home advantage but the escalating foot-and-mouth epidemic threatens to force them into a rethink, rather than delay the match until next season.

Following confirmation yesterday of the first case of the disease in France, the Irish Department of Agriculture is unlikely to approve Paris.

By coincidence, the RFU has had informal talks with the Italian Federation about the availability of the Flaminio Stadium in Rome. RFU chief executive Francis Baron said: 'Our view is that it's better to play the match at a neutral venue rather than leave the championship incomplete.

'These are extreme measures but it is essential the championship is finished by the end of May without interrupting the Lions' preparations for Australia.'

The RFU acknowledges that England's next scheduled match, against France at Twickenham on April 7, could be in doubt. Baron added: 'We are concerned about the French match so that all the home countries could be in the same boat with at least one home match to re-arrange.'

The Six Nations committee is refusing to shift the Ireland-England match from its provisional new date, May 5, despite the RFU saying that May 19 will be available because the European Cup Final can be put back a week.

The RFU's operations director Terry Burwell said: 'May 5 is still the Six Nations' preferred date. We are saying that is neither appropriate nor logical given the escalation of foot-and-mouth. We have to think that May 5 is going to be pretty unlikely.'

Even if the Irish Government gives the go-ahead for the game to take place that weekend, it clashes with the semi-finals of the English Premiership playoffs with clubs adamant that their international players will not be released.

In the end money, as usual, will talk. The Unions stand to lose up to £7m from gate receipts, television and sponsorship revenue for any abandoned fixture.

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Grand Slam decider could be in Rome

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