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Irish pundit calls for Italy to be axed from Six Nations to make way for South Africa

Tommaso Allan of Italy looks dejected during the Rugby World Cup France 2023 match between New Zealand and Italy at Parc Olympique on September 29, 2023 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Michael Steele - World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)

Irish TV commentator and rugby reporter Hugh Cahill has called for Italy to be axed from the Six Nations following their 96-17 defeat to the All Blacks in Lyon.

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The manner of conceding nearly 100 points was proof that Italian rugby is no longer fit for purpose in Europe’s premier international rugby competition.

Italy has just 13 victories from 120 Six Nations appearances since joining the competition in 2000 and often go long stretches without wins.

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They were able to break a seven-year losing streak in 2022 when they beat Wales 22-21 for their first victory since 2015, but ended up with the wooden spoon again in 2023 with another winless campaign.

Cahill wrote it was “only a matter of time” before South Africa takes Italy’s place in the Championship. He believed there wasn’t room for both teams due to the demands of the annual calendar.

South Africa’s domestic teams already compete in Europe in the United Rugby Championship and the Stormers have featured in two finals, winning one.

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But breaking into the Six Nations at Italy’s expense would be difficult with the ownership structure in place. The six national unions and private equity arm CVC all have equity stakes in the competition.

Those against Cahill’s proposal were quick to point out Italy’s success at age grade level.

Italy’s U20 side has offered some promise in recent seasons, finishing third in 2023 and fourth in 2022 in the U20 Six Nations.

They also produced a historic result at this year’s U20 World Championship beating hosts South Africa by 34-26.

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The national side may benefit from this promising crop over the next few seasons and boost Italy’s competitiveness.

South Africa would bring one of the world’s most physical teams into the mix that would upend the competition.

Along with the current top two ranked sides Ireland and France, adding South Africa would create a super league.

But success for the Springboks would not be guaranteed given the strength of European rugby and how difficult it is to win away.

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Comments

49 Comments
M
MT 596 days ago

Automatically qualifying is not allowing the tier 2 teams to meet tier ones. That's a good point to. Welsh teams joining English, would provide 4 new places in the URC, that would help gow game to, and create more income in Spain and Portugal. Further leauge. Cheetahs ,Black Lion club, be good additions, and more competitive than Welsh teams have been.

M
MT 596 days ago

This is the worst proposal ever. Italy are essential for rugby's future. Ireland have the most wooden spoons in 5/6 nation history, followed by France. Should they have been dropped back then? Italy should start rebuilding straight after the tournament, Gallorini, Odiase, Carlo Mey, great talents to name just 3. They need an active 7's program, a development team in super rugby Europe and an Emerging Italy team, all pathways, to cream the talent off, for national team.

m
mark 596 days ago

Considering Italy are generally the whipping boy in the 6N, I'm not sure how Scotland would feel about replacing Italy's role.... 🤣

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Damian 596 days ago

The views of a pundit hold no weight and I'm sure the Home Nations know how hard it is to beat RSA at home. Also very unkind. When the Allblacks thump Ireland in the quarter I wonder if the same pundit will want to include NZ in the six nations instead of Ireland? The other der-brain thing is that the Italians are actually playing great rugby - very similar style to the Irish.

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Filippo 597 days ago

What this simpleton doesn't understand Is that our sport needs to grow

The last thing you wanna do Is to kill It in such a Major country like Italy. I didn't Say major market, It ain't there yet, but in terms of population, yes. You wanna grow the game, not make It more insular. And in order to do that you gotta try your best to get the big Boys interested. That starts of course with the US. But then you Need to try in Germany, Spain, Brazil, maybe China. The last thing you wanna do Is to drop Italy from the 6N

And by the way: congrats to NZ rugby for killing SR. See you guys in 20 years

I
IS 596 days ago

How did nzr kill SR you do know SR has been going on the rise since the new laws we put in place right you do know that aye also south Africa left on their own behind because they couldn't win anything they were below Australia

P
PE 597 days ago

Nobody should pay any attention to what Hugh Cahill says. He can barely put together a coherent commentary and often gets the basic concepts of rugby wrong. RTE are an incompetent old boys club and he keeps the job not because he knows what is doing but because they wouldn't know what else to do with him.


Did he call for Ireland to be dropped from the 6N when we lost 60-0 to NZ in 2012? What about when England lost 78-0 to Australia in 1998?


South Africa joining the 6N would shrink the game rather than grow it. We need a strong Southern Hemisphere competition along with more meaningful games for the PNC and Rugby Europe teams.

P
PC 596 days ago

I agree with your essential point that bringing SA into the 6N would change the whole character of the tournament and the quality and style of the rugby played. But your comments on Hugh Cahill are v unfair. I think commentary generally across the Irish channels is pretty good - it's the panels and the post-match interviews with MOTMs, captains and coaches that can be pretty dire.

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GH 597 days ago

This so called "irish pundit" (who is he ??) seems to want more commercial ads and less rugby. This RWC is showing us that "small" countries are fighting to reach a higher level. Some games with Chile, Georgia, Uruguay or Portugal show us there is a will if there is also a lack of power, speed, technicity. There is not enough opportunities to improve. I am throwing a stone in the pond : no more free tickets for World Cup! Qualify first against your neighbours. Yes that means NZ-Samoa, England-Roumania, Argentina-Uruguay etc. OK, the scores will be the same at first but these small teams will meet big ones more often.

c
chris 597 days ago

I think both South Africa and a European qualifier team such as Georgia need to be added to 6 nations....the game needs a broader base and better quality...

Can do this with 2 groups of 4 playing 3 matches..

Top 2 from each play super 4 league with 2 matches against 2 qualifiers from other group.

Therefore no more than 5 matches.

Great fan of SA rugby, I lived in Johannnesburg for 5 years.

Fans could fly overnight to JNB, see saturday match and fly back next night, no

need accomodation, same time zone

T
Tris 596 days ago

But by bringing in more teams you would lose a lot of the classics. So England v Ireland might only happen every other year and once every 4 years in London. That is a lot to lose


And then where do you put the final. Its part of the six nations jeopardy that one year at home next away.


And you arent getting that many flying to SA.


And would SA give two games a year against NZ up.

T
Tom 597 days ago

I don't think adding SA does anything for rugby. And I think it diminishes the world cup having the top side from the Southern Hemisphere playing in a championship against all our teams every year. If you just bring in NZ too we can rename the 6N the world cup. I really dislike this idea. We need to do more to incorporate the likes of Georgia definitely but SA are doing fine already.

C
Cam 597 days ago

😂. Is someone as keen for clicks as another individual who has very lopsided opinions?

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Flankly 597 days ago

Both the 6N and TRC need parallel second tier tournaments in the NH and SH respectively, with promotion and relegation. But turkeys don't vote for Thanksgiving.

C
Chris 597 days ago

As a saffa id say it’s a good move for us: better time zone, better money, better teams moving forward. Super rugby is dying and league rugby will suffocate rugby in that region. From a global perspective l, strategically think we need to stay in the championship to keep southern hemisphere rugby strong

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BT 597 days ago

Not good. Gap between the top teams and the rest is already too big. Get the likes of Georgia in as well, and fix the !@#$ calendar.

D
Drew 597 days ago

No.

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Def Kiwi 597 days ago

How about we start axing teams from RWC that have never made Quarter Finals, Mr. Irish Pundit Man?

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SM 597 days ago

I am, A Very Angry All Black supporter! To hear an Irish commentator suggesting such a ludicrous idea that South Africa should join the Six Nation is an absolutely sick irish joke.

Replace Italy with Georgia, and leave the Southern Hemisphere Rugby Championship alone, you "IRISH WALLY!"

S
SM 597 days ago

I am, An Very Angry All Black Supporter! And to an Irish commentator suggesting such a ludicrous ifea

D
David 597 days ago

What a dumb comment. As if NH rugby and 6 nations needs more strength from the SH. Do you want to destroy southern hem rugby altogether?. 6 nations need to focus on their own backyard and strengthening countries like Italy. Not neglecting them more.

P
Pecos 597 days ago

Italy's useless? Why would anyone bother playing in a competition which includes the 4 Home Unions? I mean, from a combined total of 148 tests played against the All Blacks, the 4 Home Unions have only won 16 tests. S.I.X.T.E.E.N. Now that's what I call useless.

P
PaPaRumple 597 days ago

Trust a negative BS comment by Ben Smith to feature in this article. Guy is like a permanent skid mark on the pants of SA rugby.

M
Michael 597 days ago

With respect to Italy playing them in the 6 nations is little more than an opposed practice match. You improve by playing the best, so to get the current world champions in would be a massive improvement

J
Jen 596 days ago

Is it though? When France played them this year it was 29-25.

J
Jérémie 597 days ago

The world champions may change every four years...

j
jeremy 597 days ago

or better yet, France and Ireland play down under against SA and NZ. and let England think they're special up north

r
rod 597 days ago

Agreed that would be a huge money earner but also have huge crowds & a television audience worldwide. Since Covid the ABs we’re basically only playing Australia who should only have three teams in SR! I’m sure most SA fans would love to be back playing NZ teams & Argentina by the way. Imagine having 3 NZ TEAMS 💯 the chiefs, Blues - Crusaders, Highlanders and the Hurricanes with Tasman, Taranaki and Bay of Plenty. Get rid of the NZRU or go the way of Scott Robertson & select all New Zealand players overseas for the next World Cup.

D
Dim 597 days ago

Just look at the price of the tickets and hospitalities for Italy games vs other games. 6N organizers did speak themselves. For me the 6th place in the 6N for the following season has to be earned and the last place team has to play someone from European qualification tournament to stay or leave. For sure it won't add money to 6N bosses, but will boost other teams goals. Unfortunately the gap between 6N and the rest of Europe is so big that Italy most likely will win all these games in the nearest future. Not sure about the upcoming united South and North tournament. It sounds interesting but the last word will be again with the commercial (not sport) value.

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rajnil 597 days ago

You losers, one solid All Blacks performance has unsettled you lot haha 😂

D
Dave 597 days ago

Think this was just a comment for reactions. Had to look up who he was

M
Mark 597 days ago

Georgia should be added to the 6n before any talk of SA joining.

Its not the job of European rugby to make SA rugby commercially viable!!

P
PaPaRumple 597 days ago

SA rugby has the largest fan base and brings in lots of money way more than Georgia ever will. Also it's about competition and you know SA will bring that.

p
piotr 597 days ago

You may as well drop England or Scotland and add NZ or Fiji then. Imagine the Fijian team after a couple of years.

p
pc 597 days ago

On one side we have people trying to grow competition and on the other side we still have people like this, trying to keep an elite game with only 6 countries.

J
Jen 597 days ago

Oh pull yourself together, it was one terrible result. Do they not remember that France beat Italy by 5 points in 6N this year? How are teams meant to grow if they don’t get opportunities to play better teams?

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Another 597 days ago

It is selfish and does nothing for growing the global sport - indeed it is directly detrimental to Italy. If a global season was properly set up, it would be a redundant move in any case.

b
by 598 days ago

I don’t think it’s whether the Boks would win the cup or not but they would be VERY competitive and it would make for a great championship. Throw in the AB’s and it would be even better.

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