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The postponed Six Nations match between France and Scotland is to be rescheduled to the evening of Friday 26 March. It is understood that despite that weekend hosting a full Premiership rugby fixture list, Scotland coach Gregor Townsend will have all of his England, Wales and France-based players available to him. France will also be at full strength.
Six of the Scotland side which started against Wales play their rugby outside of Scotland, including captain Stuart Hogg at Exeter and playmaker Finn Russell in Paris with Racing 92. With both Premiership Rugby and the Top 14 clubs previously unwilling to make players available for international matches on designated club dates, any such fixture the weekend after the Six Nations could only take place with the agreement of clubs in France and England.
However, it appears that the Scottish Rugby Union have successfully negotiated a one-off exemption with Premiership Rugby on the grounds of the unique circumstances due to Covid-19, with Scotland coach Gregor Townsend’s determination to maintain good relations with the top English clubs proving the deciding factor.
Perhaps more surprisingly, particularly given that the Covid outbreak which forced the fixture’s postponement was the fault of France coach Fabien Galthie, the FFR have been able to do likewise with the same Top 14 clubs who refused to release its players for their Autumn Nations Cup against England.
If the date is confirmed, the Six Nations Super Saturday finale may no longer decide who wins the title. However, it could also set up a title and grand-slam decider if France remain unbeaten to that point.
The Scottish Rugby Union has consistently insisted that any date which means Townsend’s side would be weakened and missing key players was a non-starter. But given rugby’s parlous financial position, finding a solution that would avoid repaying any sponsorship or television revenue was in everyone’s interests.
However, between now and any final match of the tournament, France must travel to Twickenham to play England before facing a Wales side that seems certain to be unbeaten and going for a Grand Slam in Paris.
The last remaining issue blocking France’s game against Scotland going ahead has also been solved. France’s Minister of Sport, Roxana Maracineanu, had raised the spectre of blocking France’s participation in the tournament unless a full investigation into the breach of Covid protocols was conducted. However, the government has approved France’s participation after the FFR gave assurances that enhanced Covid-19 protocols would be put in place.
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