Next season's Six Nations could be expanded to a home-and-away format under proposals being considered by the competing nations, according to reports.
"One of the solutions could be to have a home and away Six Nations, but that's one of the solutions it's not `the solution' because the main solution is that of maintaining the autumn tests for all the countries from the Six Nations," Italian rugby federation president Alfredo Gavazzi said on Wednesday.
"An alternative could be that but we still haven't decided anything. It's an alternative which is on the plate and we need to evaluate it."
"We have a meeting every Thursday night between all the six nations and we talk about those things. We are verifying the possibility of having another competition in alternative to the November tests," Gavazzi added.
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"It's a new situation which is evolving day by day and certainly we can't give a schedule but we are talking about alternatives to the November tests, we are talking about the global situation, we are looking at the possibility of having other competitions."
Gavazzi was speaking at a press conference, held via video link, at the presentation of Franco Smith as Italy's new coach.
RANKED | The 5 Dirtiest Rugby Players in History
There is a fine line between being an aggressive, hard nosed player and a dirty one. With some players it is difficult to distinguish whether or not they are simply playing with grit and determination
Here are, in RUCK's opinion, the 5 dirtiest players in rugby history.
5. Danny Grewcock
A second row with something of a short fuse. Picked up a five-week ban after being sent off for kicking All Blacks hooker Anton Oliver in a Test in Dunedin in 1998, two weeks for punching Lawrence Dallaglio in a club match in 2003, two months for biting All Black hooker Keven Mealamu during the first Lions Test in 2005, six weeks for punching French lock Thibault Privat in 2007 and seven weeks for stamping on Ulster flanker Stephen Ferris in 2010. Knew his way to the disciplinary offices!
4. Richard Loe
Known as The Enforcer, All Blacks prop Loe had something of a reputation. In October 1992, his actions caught up with him when he was found guilty of deliberately inserting his fingers into the eyes of Otago full-back Greg Cooper “with considerable force” during the national championship final.
3. Calum Clark
This one still makes me wince. Northampton flanker Clark was found guilty of intentionally hyper-extending and breaking the arm of Leicester hooker Rob Hawkins during the 2012 LV cup final. The ban was initially for 64 weeks, but was halved due to his guilty plea.
2. David Attoub
Stade Francais prop Attoub was banned after gouging Ulster’s Stephen Ferris during a stormy Heineken Cup clash at Ravenhill in December 2009.
Ferris told the hearing: “The contact was very strong and extremely painful - the finger in my right eye was forced downward in a poking and gouging motion; it was someone trying to drive a finger as hard as he could into my eye socket and I could not prevent it.” Ouch!
1. Bakkies Botha
The Springbok lock certainly totted up the bans. Eight weeks for “attacking the face” of Aussie hooker Brendan Cannon in 2003; three weeks for striking another Wallaby, Phil Waugh, in 2009; two matches for an illegal clear out on Adam Jones in the second Lions Test in the same year; four weeks for a similar offence on Gio Aplon in 2010; and nine weeks for a headbutt on Jimmy Cowan in 2010. The dirtiest player ever.
