Six Nations championship in chaos

13 April 2012

The Six Nations lurched into deeper crisis last night, leaving England's potential decider against Ireland in Dublin on March 24 in imminent danger of postponement.

As foot-and-mouth disease spread, the Irish Government ordered sport in the Republic to be shut down 'until further notice' and warned that all St Patrick's Day parades may be cancelled, seven days before the scheduled collision of the championship's unbeaten teams.

Sports Minister Jim McDaid said last night: 'It isn't looking too healthy for the coming weeks.'

Within 48 hours of calling off their Triple Crown match against Wales in Cardiff on Government instructions, the Irish Rugby Union ordered the cancellation of their entire weekend programme of 24 League matches.

'We are asking for the cancellation of all sporting events where the proper disinfectant facilities are not available for spectators and vehicles,' said a spokesman for the Irish Department of Agriculture. 'We have made no decision as yet on the Ireland-England game but we are monitoring events as they unfold.'

Ireland, matching England win for win over the first two rounds, fear the worst.

'We understand that the farming industry is very important to the Irish economy and that no risk can be taken with people's livelihoods,' said London Irish flanker Kieron Dawson. 'It would be typical Irish luck if the entire championship was called off because we feel we have a realistic chance of beating England.'

England captain Martin Johnson said: 'We can only hope that they get the out-break under control so that people can get on with their lives and that sport can be played.'

With the Six Nations' committee going into emergency session tomorrow, French president Bernard Lapasset warned that the rest of the tournament beyond this weekend, a total of seven matches, may have to be shifted to the end of the season.

'With the situation as it is today, there is a risk of postponing the matches scheduled for March and April until May,' he said.

The task of rearranging seven matches will pose almost impossible logistical problems, given the congested end- of- season list but the Unions will argue that they simply cannot afford not to find alternative dates.

Lost matches will mean more than losing £10million-plus in ticket sales. Lloyds TSB, the tournament sponsors, were going through their contract yesterday with a fine-tooth comb and TV will want refunds for matches which cannot be re-scheduled.

Six Nations chairman Allan Hosie gave more than a hint yesterday that international matches will take precedence over European and club competitions.

'We are aware that the British Lions are going on tour at the end of May and we are also aware of domestic fixtures,' he said. 'But we must explain that international rugby football is the breadwinner for many Unions.'

Wales have provisionally agreed to stage their match against Ireland at the Millennium Stadium on Sunday, April 29, to avoid a televised clash with the Rugby League Cup Final.

The match cannot be played any later because of the FA Cup Final and the Welsh Rugby Union's agree-ment with the Football Association that no rugby is played for 10 days before the final.

One of Britain's leading rugby travel operators, Mike Burton, appealed last night for the Six Nations not to panic. 'We are taking 2,000 people over for the Dublin game,' he said. 'Calling the game off will not stop them going there for the weekend.'

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Six Nations championship in chaos

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