Neutral venue option for Ireland

Ireland could be asked to play their matches at neutral venues in a bid to complete the Six Nations Championship this season.

Francis Baron, the Rugby Football Union chief executive today said the Championship must be completed but that Ireland may have to switch their match with England - postponed from 24 March due to the foot and mouth crisis - to either Paris, Edinburgh, Cardiff or Twickenham.

Baron said "It is essential that we complete the Championship this season and we may have to consider neutral venues because of the restrictions imposed on the Irish Union by their government."