FORMER IRELAND AND Munster star Ronan O’Gara said today that Heineken Cup games could easily be played in Asia — but he doubts fans would put up with having Six Nations Tests shifted to the region.
The former flyhalf, now an assistant coach with Racing Metro, was speaking ahead of a friendly against Toulouse in Hong Kong on 9 November.
Australia and New Zealand have broken with tradition by playing Bledisloe Cup games in Hong Kong and Tokyo, but O’Gara said it would be a step too far for Six Nations fans.
“In the Six Nations, each team has just five games and every year there’s only two, or three max, home games,” he told AFP in a telephone interview.
“So to give away one game, I don’t know how happy the supporters would be because it’s their national team and it means so much to the people of that country.
“So I think it’s a bit more complicated for a Six Nations game but I could easily see a European Cup game going, no problem whatsoever.”
Rugby’s growing profile in Asia was boosted by a British and Irish Lions tour match in Hong Kong this year, while Japan will host the Rugby World Cup in 2019.
O’Gara said the Heineken Cup, Europe’s club championship, was more portable than the Six Nations, as seen when his former club Munster played Bourgoin in Switzerland in 2007.
“I’m sure if this (friendly) is a success in Hong Kong it’ll open the doors,” he added.