EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS REPORTS
BILL LOTHIAN
BRIAN KENNEDY today called for the RBS Six Nations Championship to be moved back in the season to avoid club versus country conflicts such as that currently disrupting international training.

Sale Sharks owner Kennedy, who also sits as a non-executive director of the SRU, acknowledged difficulties for both camps as English clubs prepare to order stars such as Scotland's Jim Hamilton, Sean Lamont and Rory Lawson to concentrate on this weekend's Premiership programme rather than resting for internationals.

But Edinburgh-born Kennedy does not want to see the situation escalate into all-out conflict. He said: "This is an opportunity to resolve, once and for all, a crazy situation. I feel for Scotland coach Frank Hadden and it is not good for others either.

"Hopefully everybody will get round the table in a way I know England want and thrash out a structure similar to the Southern Hemisphere where they have the Super-14 leading into the Tri-Nations followed by the national provincial championships."

Rather be at the centre of a conflict of interest through his Murrayfield/Sale involvements multi-millionaire businessman Kennedy can be an instrumental figure in leading change.

Speaking exclusively to the Evening News, Kennedy said: "Top-class players just don't want to be playing in the second-tier European competition.

"Similarly it is crazy for (England coach) Brian Ashton to have only one proper training session before he sends his team out against Ireland next week.

"Something needs to be done and I hope the current conflict that has arisen can be the lever that sorts the situation out."

This article was posted on 14-Feb-2007, 12:55 by Hugh Barrow.