Six Nations: Call for Ireland's exclusion from tournament

Northampton owner, Keith Barwell, has called for Ireland to be excluded from this years Six Nations championships.

He believes Ireland should be kicked out of the competition because of their refusal to play during the foot-and-mouth crisis.

Ireland's game against Wales in Cardiff was called off, and a new date has still to be arranged for England's clash in Dublin, which was scheduled for March 24.

Barwell said: "The fact of the matter is that the Irish have called these games off.

"I believe they should be told if they cannot fulfil their fixtures it should return to the Five Nations this year."