Sport
Six Nations Rugby Matches 2017
By: BRUCE MACKENZIE
The Six Nations Championship is without doubt the world ' s greatest rugby tournament. Each year the collective fans of six proud nations – England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales – share in the passion and excitement of this feast of rugby. Some of the rivalries in this tournament date back more than 140 years, which simply adds to the sense of occasion.
The third round of the 2017 Six Nations Championship began in Edinburgh, where Scotland beat Wales for the first time in 10 years. Ireland Friday 10th March 2017
Wales v Ireland at Principality Stadium, Cardiff 8:05pm Saturday 11th March 2017
Italy v France at Stadio Olimpico, Rome 1:30pm England v Scotland at Twickenham Stadium, London 4:00pm
Saturday 18th March 2017
Scotland v Italy at BT Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh 12:30pm France v Wales at Stade de France, Paris 2:45pm Ireland v England at Aviva Stadium, Dublin 5:00pm
The six nation’ s championship may have concluded by the time you read this article. From the games in the with a late try to rugby league convert Ben Teo provided the English with the 19-16 win. Ireland were favorites against Scotland, however the canny Scots, with Stuart Hogg in fine form, coming out the winners1st week of February, the competition produced some good running rugby with the added bonus point rules. England found the French“ les Bleues” a difficult encounter. It wasn’ t until the final minutes of the game, 27-22. Wales were slow starters against a determined Italy but ran out eventual winners 33-8.
Scotland’ s captain Greig Laidlaw lifts the Quaich trophy. Awarded as part of the Six Nations Championship. Although the two countries have played each other on 121 times, award has only been presented to the winners of the fixture since 1989.
e second week of competition produced close games also. England continued their winning form and look well placed to break the 18 ame win record plus claim a second championship title. Italy’ s form, though improving through the competition will see them as wooden pooners in 2017.
6 Nation Expansion Promotion Relegation
urther to comments already made in various media, a promotion relegation for the six nations and European Nations Cup First division ompetitions. This should be further investigated for a progressive way forward for rugby in Europe. Positive advancement in teams play and dministration for Georgia, Romania, Spain, Portugal and Russia show progress in these rugby playing countries. These current countries now lso produce competitive under 20s sides. For such countries to strive to win the European Nation Cup competition, a promotion relegation ame would provide country rugby administrations and team’ s incentive to continue to improve on and off the field. Such a game should be ully supported by the top administration of rugby to continue growth of rugby in theses playing countries. Ignoring this growth of the game, n such countries, reinforces that certain administrators do not look at the expansion of the game in Europe but at profit margin spread sheets.
The MAG Vung Tau 33