French government wants Six Nations safety guarantees from Ireland and England

France’s involvement in the Six Nations is in doubt (Ian Rutherford/PA)

In this Covid-19 blighted rugby season, you could almost hear the relief leap off the press release as the Guinness PRO14 expressed its gratitude to competition stakeholders for helping it get fixtures back on the schedule.

Yet just as the news that Munster versus Leinster, a game postponed from round nine on December 26, would be played a week on Saturday in the absence of Heineken Champions Cup rugby over the next two weekends, came further uncertainty from France about their national team’s readiness to complete its 2021 Guinness Six Nations fixtures.