Proposal to condense Six Nations is 'implausible' - Zander Fagerson

Scotland international Zander Fagerson has criticised proposals suggesting for a shortened Six Nations tournament.

The current version has been spaced across seven weeks and has been adopted since 2000 when Italy was admitted to the tournament.

However, the Aviva Premiership clubs wants the board to remove the two fallow weekends in between which will allow the tournament end in five weeks, thereby freeing the players for club duties at the end of the domestic season.

The proposal might face hindrance from various factors including player welfare and Fagerson believes such a change will hamper player's progress.

"I think that's completely implausible," he said when asked about the suggested changes, which would kick in from 2020.

"I feel sorry for the guys who might have to play for their clubs this weekend. We get looked after pretty well so unless it's a necessity I don't think a lot of the boys will be playing.

"I don't know if I'll have the weekend off. I'm not the boss.

"If I have to play for Glasgow I'll play for Glasgow. I like my rugby and want to play every game.

"Having been in the junior World Cup, where you play five games over four weeks, it is pretty brutal, and that's at Under-20 level. Internationally it would be ridiculous. I don't think that could ever happen."

Meanwhile, Scotland hooker Ross Ford has backed his team to bounce back from the defeat to France despite losing skipper Greig Laidlaw for the remainder of the tournament.

Laidlaw suffered a ankle injury during the game and had to leave the field in the 24th minute and upon further scans, he was declared unavailable for the rest of Scotland's campaign in the Six Nations.

Ford, who himself is a former captain of Scotland believes there are strong leadership personalities within the group, who can help the team in the crisis.

"Grieg is obviously a massive part of the squad and a great leader, so it's a big blow.

"His captaincy over the past 18 months has really come through to the fore and he shows when he plays that he is a big part of what we're about.

"But we've got a leadership group that has been alongside Greig helping him out, so those boys will be able to step up and take that role on and move forward.

"We do it as a group and yeah, Greig is the focal point (but) we have a group of leaders who can shoulder the burden."

Our 6 Nations cover is sponsored by Allett Mowers