The Six Nations Committee met this afternoon to consider the implications for the 2001 Lloyds TSB Six Nations Championship of the outbreak of foot and mouth disease.

Earlier this week the match between Wales and Ireland, due to be played tomorrow in Cardiff, was postponed following strong advise from the Irish government (all sporting fixtures within the island of Ireland are currently
suspended, and Dublin’s St Patrick’s Day Parade has been cancelled).

A revised date for the Wales v Ireland match will be confirmed in due course, but it has been provisionally rescheduled for 29 April. The matches between Italy and France and England and Scotland will be played tomorrow.

There remains serious uncertainty about the timing of further matches scheduled to be played later this month and in April. The Committee will keep the position under continuous review and hopes to conclude the Championship by
the end of the season.

Likely dates for further postponements are 5/6 and 12/13 May. The Committee is committed to ensuring that in due course all matches will be played, even if this necessitates postponement of some matches until the autumn.

Further announcements will be made as appropriate.

For further information, please contact:
Rob Cole
Westgate
Tel: +44 2920 668 268
E-mail: westgate@globalnet.co.uk