Rugby Europe President Increases Pressure On Six Nations Organizers

Rugby Europe President Octavian Morariu "turned up the pressure" on the organizers of the Six Nations over changes to the format and make-up of the teams following a meeting in Paris on Thursday, according to the AFP. Former Romanian int'l Morariu and the 17 board members of Rugby Europe validated unanimously the drafting and sending of an official letter to 6 Nations Ltd. "over opening up the tournament to other teams." They were "at pains not to single out Italy, whose succession of poor results has stirred up a debate over whether a vastly-improved country like Georgia should replace them in the competition." Morariu said, "It is not about punishing a specific team because of its results in the tournament." He added that "both parties should hold talks." Morariu: "We don't want to compromise what has been achieved until now, but opening a dialogue seems to us crucial for the benefit of all" (AFP, 3/9).