Sean Fitzpatrick has voiced his opposition to world champions South Africa joining the Six Nations Championship.
The failure of Italy to win a match in the tournament since 2015 has prompted talk of change and last month South Africa informed Sanzaar, rugby’s southern hemisphere governing body, that they were exploring the possibility of joining from 2025.
All Blacks legend Fitzpatrick said: "The Six Nations is arguably the best competition in world rugby at the moment outside the World Cup.
"We’ve seen that in the first three rounds. It’s compelling viewing. Why look at adding something to it when it’s not broken?
“I don’t personally like having a southern hemisphere team in the Six Nations because the history of the competition is northern hemisphere.
“I like the Six Nations as it is and it would be devastating to the southern hemisphere if we lost South Africa out of the Rugby Championship.”
Fitzpatrick admits he would not be against the Six Nations introducing a play-off between the tournament’s bottom team and the winner of the second tier.
“That’s a good option, I’d definitely look at that,” he said.
Sean Fitzpatrick is Chairman of the Laureus Academy, and was speaking ahead of the 2022 Laureus World Sports Awards. To find out more, visit www.laureus.com
