The 2020 Guinness Six Nations opens when Wales host Italy on February 1.
Here, the PA news agency examines five talking points heading into the tournament.
Crisis at Saracens
Club Statement | Saracens accepts relegation from Gallagher Premiership.
— Saracens Rugby Club (@Saracens) January 19, 2020
England’s Six Nations build-up has been overshadowed by Saracens’ relegation from the Gallagher Premiership for salary cap breaches. Eddie Jones will oversee a meeting at the squad’s training camp in Portugal to address any rifts caused by the scandal, but just how much damage has been done remains to be seen.
World Cup finalists to…
All change
Some new faces at our #GuinnessSixNations Launch today!
Best of luck to first-time #GuinnessSixNations Head Coaches in the upcoming Championship! pic.twitter.com/RQJRXclTX5
— Guinness Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) January 22, 2020
Four of the six teams have new coaches with only Jones and Scotland’s Gregor Townsend in place for the 2019 Six Nations. Jones, in particular, has lost two of his greatest sparring partners in Warren Gatland and Joe Schmidt and the competition will feel their loss keenly, hoping the likes of Wayne Pivac and Andy Farrell will discover similar stature.
France rebirth
Farrell v Farrell
