Pro12 chief urges shifting of Six Nations tournament for global season

The managing director of Pro12 Martin Anayi insisted on shifting the Six Nations tournament in order to align itself with the proposed global season.

Earlier, World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont said the board is planning to integrate the Northern and Southern hemisphere with a global calendar which may require Six Nations to be shifted to April.

However, Rugby Football Union chief executive Ian Ritchie expressed his reluctance to move Six Nations as he believes it will affect the commercial interest of the tournament.

Pro12 are currently in discussion with USA Rugby to include an East Coast-based team in the league and Anayi believes that the shifting of the Six Nations tournament by atleast three weeks will allow clubs to have more international stars participating in it.

"We've had really early discussions, with USA Rugby, broadcasters, sponsors, consulting internally with our teams and shareholders," said Anayi, reconfirming the Pro12's preliminary plans to branch out into North America.

"Everyone's saying the same things, that if it's good for the tournament across a whole range of areas, player welfare, if it's good commercially, for the fans, and does it form part of their strategic plan too, then we should explore how far we can take it.

"They believe in the same things we do, which is the only way for a tier two nation to become a tier one nation is through professional club rugby.

"Because there is no scope to expand the international calendar, for the USA to play more games."

Anayi also believes the American market will be better served in the northern hemisphere tournaments rather than representing the Super Rugby teams in the southern hemisphere. However, the Pro12 chief insisted on clearing the confusion around global calendar first to ensure a successful season.

"You've got to talk about why it is that we're losing a huge proportion of international players not week-in and week-out, but in big chunks of the season," said Anayi.

"Intersperse that with European club rugby as well and you get quite a disjointed season.

"We think there's a simple solution, which is to push the Six Nations back and finish the club season in before the Six Nations.

"We'll be really really sure about our future and how successful club rugby can be globally if we can just get to the point where we get our international players playing in a consistent fashion."