Former Wales captain Sam Warburton has led calls against South Africa's inclusion in the Six Nations.
Warburton was backed up by fellow international captains Martin Johnson and John Barclay in his view that the Springboks do not belong in the competition.
Earlier this month, tournament organisers were forced to deny reports they were preparing to welcome the defending world champions on board.
Details were thin on the ground, but the suggestion was the preferred option was for the 'Boks to replace perennial strugglers Italy.
Despite the Six Nations' denial, there is still a sense that South African involvement is coming down the pipe, with their domestic sides already playing in the United Rugby Championship.
Warburton, though, feels the Six Nations has a responsibility to developing other European nations.
"I love South Africa and I loved playing against them but absolutely not [when it comes to] the Six Nations," he told the BBC.
"I understand there is talk about aligning rugby teams on time zones as opposed to hemispheres, and I can understand that because South Africa is out on its own a little bit.
"It's in the same time zone as us and it's miles away from counterparts in Australia and New Zealand.
"But the Six Nations, for me, has a responsibility to develop European rugby. It's Europe, who is the best in Europe? It's the European championship.
"Adding South Africa into that makes no sense whatsoever.
"For me, we need to develop Europe. That's bringing in promotion and relegation and it would take someone much smarter than me to figure out how it works.
"But whoever comes bottom of the Six Nations, we should never just drop them straight down because the standard coming up might not be good enough.
"There should be a play-off in the next available international window.
"Let's just say it was Italy and Georgia, if Georgia play Italy in Italy and win, then you know the standard coming up is better.
"We need to remove the glass ceiling and develop European rugby as a whole. That has got to be a priority."
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Warburton was speaking on the BBC's coverage of Scotland v France, and fellow pundit Barclay agreed.
He said that if Italy were booted out of the tournament - something they could veto as shareholders in it - then it would be the 'death of Italian rugby'.
"I think it's worrying. There's no smoke without fire. Where are these rumours coming from?
"It can't go to seven nations, we're talking about there being too much rugby already. If you make it seven nations, it would be played over nine weeks.
"The season is not long enough, there's not enough weeks in the year.
"The other thing is that Italy have the right to veto. So if Italy didn't veto it, you'd assume they would have been bought out of their rights, that would be the death of Italian rugby."
Former England captain Johnson, meanwhile, added: "They don't fit into the Six Nations.
"It's a European tournament. South Africa in the Six or Seven Nations? No."
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