Today's rugby headlines as South Africa 'set to replace Italy in seismic Six Nations move'

South Africa are ready to ramp up plans to join the Six Nations and could replace Italy in the tournament within four years, according to fresh reports.

The Springboks have committed to playing against New Zealand and Australia in the Rugby Championship until 2025, a move announced on Wednesday afternoon.

However, separate newspapers are claiming South African plans to integrate into the world's greatest annual rugby competition are still very much on.

The Guardian reckon the world champions are actively exploring the move as part of the planned radical overhaul of the global rugby calendar. 

And the Mail go a step further by claiming the Springboks "would replace struggling Italy, which would enhance the competitiveness of the event" from 2026 onwards. 

They call it "a seismic move for rugby's globe structure."

Springbok involvement would also put a definitive end to talk of promotion and relegation to and from the European showpiece.

It is said CVC, the private equity firm who have bought a £365million stake in the Six Nations and the United Rugby Championship, are one of the main driving forces behind the ambitious proposal. They see huge financial benefits to the plan.

Already South African teams the Bulls, Sharks, Stormers and Lions have joined the URC, meaning they meet the four Welsh regions, plus sides like Glasgow, Leinster, Munster and Benneton on a regular basis.

From next season they will also face crack English and French teams in the European Cup and Challenge Cup.

The next logical step, it would appear, is for the national team to move into the Six Nations.

Time zones would make Six Nations matches more feasible for South Africa than the Rugby Championship, although the issue of travelling support is a clear problem given visiting fans are a major part of the tournament's huge popularity.

The Mail reckon "Well-placed sources have suggested that the most likely plan is for the six-team format to be retained, rather than any expansion of the championship."

If so, that would spell bad news for the Azzurri, who continue to lose games. However, were South Africa to do annual battle with Wales, England, Ireland, Scotland and France, it would increase the intensity and appeal of the tournament with no easy games.

The Guardian point out that even though the Springboks have committed to the Rugby Championship until 2025 in line with broadcast arrangements, that still "signals a significant sea change because less than 18 months ago a similar commitment was made until 2030."

Proposals for a World Nations Championship, the new competition to be held every two years in between World Cup tournaments and Lions tours, appears to be the in South Africa are looking at for their Six Nations hopes.

They are thought to want to use the global re-set to push their Six Nations plans and have previously put their current southern hemisphere colleagues on alert.

“South Africa did put us on notice they were exploring their options – that was well before Christmas,” confirmed Sanzaar chief executive Brendan Morris.

“We’ve got a number of international and local broadcast deals that are extended to 2025. There was never any cause for alarm that we were never going to meet those obligations."

Six Nations chief executive Ben Morel says he is “extremely cautious” about expansion, but CVC are said to feel South African involvement would bring enormous commercial gains and make an already legendary tournament even greater.

This article originally came from Wales Online