First Sunday match for Irish

Ireland are set to play their first Six Nations rugby match on a Sunday when they face France at Stade Francais next year. Ireland have been scheduled to play France on Sunday, March 19th, an historic change from the usual Saturday fixture. Until this year the competition has been a Five Nations event involving Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales and France, but Italy will take part for the first time next year.

The tournament organisers will stage some matches on a Sunday because of the greater exposure afforded to the competition as a result. Last season saw the Five Nations break with tradition and hold matches on Sundays, primarily for reasons of TV coverage, but Ireland was not one of the teams involved.

The only two scheduled Sunday matches in the 2000 competition will be the Irish game against France and the Calcutta Cup match between Scotland and England at Murrayfield on April 2nd.

The Scottish Rugby Union chief executive Bill Watson said TV commitments meant the Calcutta Cup match had to be played on a Sunday. He said: "We appreciate some problems were encountered when this fixture was played on a Sunday in 1998.

"The SRU's preference for matches to be played on a Saturday is well-known, but Scotland is a partner to the TV agreement with the BBC which permits Sunday matches and it is a deal which benefits all of Scottish rugby.

"To ensure that the fixture and the rugby weekend are highly successful we have been in contact with Edinburgh council and will be seeking dialogue with other relevant bodies in the tourist, transport and hospitality industries."

Italy's inclusion for the first Six Nations tournament will be marked by reigning Five Nations champions Scotland travelling to the Flaminio Stadium in Rome on February 5th.

Allan Hosie, the Six Nations chairman, said: "After the drama and excitement of the last Five Nations competition, where the championship was decided in injury time in the last match on the final weekend, we can look forward with keen anticipation to the first Six Nations Championship."