Six Nations Championship chief rules out suggestion of relegation

Six Nations chief executive John Feehan says there are no plans for promotion and relegation to be introduced into European rugby union’s showpiece international tournament in the “short to medium term”.

Following the 2015 World Cup in England, there were renewed calls for some form of promotion to give the likes of Georgia and Romania a chance of having access to more meaningful matches.

But Feehan has little time for relegation talk, telling the BBC on Monday: “In the short- to medium-term there is not any genuine likelihood of that happening.”

The last major shake-up to the tournament saw Italy added to the old Five Nations in 2000.

Italy have since finished bottom in 11 of the 17 subsequent Championships, but Feehan said there was no chance of the Azzurri being relegated any time soon.

“Some comments are very unfair about Italy,” Feehan said. “We think they have been a good addition to the Championship since they have entered.

“They have improved dramatically but other teams have improved dramatically – it’s a relative thing.”