Hot on the heels of Italy’s elimination from the Rugby World Cup at the pool stage, a leading Irish pundit has called for the country to be removed from the Six Nations Championship so that room can be made for the Springboks.
Hugh Cahill, an Irish TV commentator and rugby reporter, made the remarks after Italy were defeated 96-17 by the All Blacks in Lyon.
How have Italy Fared in the Six Nations Championship?
Italy made their first appearance in the Six Nations Championship in 2000. Since then, they’ve played 120 games in the competition and have only managed 13 wins.
During this time, they’ve regularly gone long stretches without a win. For example, their 22-21 victory against Wales in 2022 was their first win in the competition since 2015. In 2023, they once again went winless and claimed the competition’s wooden spoon.
What did Cahill Say?
Cahill said that conceding almost 100 points was proof that the Italian rugby team was no longer good enough to feature in Europe’s premier international rugby competition.
Cahill took to X (formerly Twitter) and said:
“Only a matter of time before South Africa replace Italy in 6N’s. Rugby calendar won’t allow seven teams. Love Italians and everything about the country, but professional rugby there has not evolved or progressed to a sufficient degree. Tonight is the proof.”
Could South Africa Actually Join the Six Nations?
It’s possible, but the pathway isn’t straightforward. Although South Africa’s domestic sides now play in Europe the United Rugby Championship (the Stormers have featured in two finals, winning one), it’s difficult to see how the Springboks can break into the Six Nations (particularly at the expense of one of the sides already in the competition).
This is largely thanks to the current ownership structure, which sees all six national unions (including Italy) as well as private equity arm CVC have an equity stake in the competition. It goes without saying that convincing Italy to vote for their own expulsion from the competition would be near impossible.
Plus, Italian fans point to the fact that their country is currently enjoying a lot of success at the age grade level and that the national side may benefit from this promising crop over the next few years.
What Would Happen if South Africa Joined the Six Nations?
That said, it’s impossible not to think about what would happen if South Africa did join the tournament (perhaps as the seventh team rather than replacing Italy entirely). After all, they’re one of the best and most physical teams in the world and adding the Springboks to a tournament that already includes France and Ireland would mean the Six Nations would feature three of the four best teams in the world at the moment.
But, although South Africa would undoubtedly be a force in the competition (we’ve just seen how easily they dispatched Scotland at the Rugby World Cup), their success would not be guaranteed. After all, European rugby is now more competitive than ever and the Springboks have found it difficult to win in the Northern Hemisphere – they’ve gone 0-3 vs Ireland and France since November 2022.
Overall, it’s highly unlikely that the Springboks will join the Six Nations in the next five years. But, if Italy continue to underperform and other European countries like Georgia and Romania don’t make enough of a case for inclusion, then South Africa could be well positioned to join the next time the tournament expands. If they do, it will be fascinating to see what happens.