Six Nations Format Discussed.

The Six Nations Committee met last Thursday, (22 November) in Manchester to consider the future structure of the Northern Hemisphere season and, in particular, the timing and duration of the annual Six Nations Championship from Spring 2003.

The Committee received the results of extensive third party research, including a presentation from Market Opinion and Research International (MORI) as to the attitude of specators, television viewers and business
towards a possible compression of the season.

Of central importance to the discussion were the views of the six Unions and their commercial partners. These inevitably covered a broad spectrum of opinion.

Whilst no collective conclusion has yet been reached, with the aim of achieving agreement during the coming month, the Committee has asked its
members to communicate to their Unions the view that a consensus appears to be attracting growing support. This contemplates a solution falling part way between, on the one hand, maintenance of the status quo and, on the other, a
radical compression of the Championship.