Adding South Africa to Six Nations would be a crushing blow to developing European sides

Rugby's version of Storm Eunice was calmed by a statement from Six Nations Rugby yesterday.

After a Daily Mail exclusive claimed the game’s most historic tournament was considering jettisoning Italy for South Africa a hurricane of outraged opinion ripped through social media.

The official response was as swift as an emergency COBRA meeting: “Six Nations Rugby, comprising the six Unions and Federations and CVC, wish to confirm that they are not entertaining any discussion nor developing any plans to add or replace any participating Union,” said the statement.