Post by Taxigirl on Feb 25, 2004 12:41:38 GMT
England and Scotland could face one another twice a year following initial talks between the two nation's rugby governing bodies.
The idea is to play for the Calcutta Cup separately from their meetings in the RBS Six Nations.
Scottish Rugby Union chair David Mackay believes this could begin next year.
"During the weekend, we talked seriously about this subject and the feeling from both camps was very positive," he said.
The oldest rivalry in the sport, which dates back to 1871, presently sees the nations playing for both Six Nations points and the Calcutta Cup.
Next season's Six Nations meeting would be played, as scheduled, in London, with a Calcutta Cup match being played later in the season in Edinburgh.
"From a standpoint that two Scotland-England matches in the same season would be difficult to schedule, we have now moved on to questions like 'how' and 'when'," said Mackay.
The idea is being considered despite the controversy over pre-match razzmatazz before Saturday's game that angered some English officials.
"I believe there would be a market for this idea," he said. "Apart from that, Murrayfield is underused, so is Twickenham.
"Once you start thinking about it, a meeting between the two teams once the Six Nations is over, at the climax of the year, makes a lot of sense, especially if there is the same kind of atmosphere which left me feeling proud last weekend.
"When you consider that over 67,000 people were prepared to come to Murrayfield on Saturday for a 5.30 kick-off when the game was live on terrestrial TV, and when there were so many rival attractions, it demonstrates the special ingredients which surround matches between Scotland and England."