Bernard Lapasset: Six Nations needs promotion-relegation

Six Nations

Bernard Lapasset: Six Nations needs promotion-relegation

ESPN Staff

April 4, 2016

Bernard Lapasset addresses delegates© Tom Shaw - IRB/IRB via Getty Images

Outgoing World Rugby chairman Bernard Lapasset has called for the Six Nations to embrace a new system which would allow other nations to contest for European rugby's biggest prize.

Lapasset will leave his post as chairman next month to focus on spearheading Paris' bid for the 2024 Olympics. He will be succeeded by Bill Beaumont, the current Six Nations chairman, and he feels European rugby's premier tournament needs to embrace a promotion-relegation system to allow the likes of Georgia or Romania a chance to compete for the title.

"We need to change the format of the 6 Nations Championship," Lapasset said in an interview with Le Figaro. "If it wants to look to the future, this competition should open up and embrace a promotion-relegation format. Either direct or via a play-off."

Lapasset said in the interview the two things he is proudest of achieving during his tenure are the introduction of Sevens into the Olympics and the game's expansion into "new frontiers" with Argentina now contending for the Rugby Championship and Japan's win over South Africa a sign of the progress the tier two sides are making.

© ESPN Staff

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Bernard Lapasset: Six Nations needs promotion-relegation