Grand Slam decider gets go ahead
August 20, 2001

This year's disrupted Six Nations will be completed as planned thanks to a relaxing of the Irish Government's restrictions of movement as a result of the foot and mouth epidemic.

With the outbreak still on-going in parts of mainland UK the tournament organisers had yet to confirm the dates for Ireland remaining three games until now.

That means England will travel to Lansdowne Road on October 20 in a winner takes all Grand Slam decider.

Roger Pickering, Six Nations chief executive, said following discussions with the Irish Government the matches will definitely go ahead as planned.

However he added the caveat that that would only remain the case as long as there is not a significant rise in the number of cases discovered in the UK.

'It is a huge relief to know that the matches will definitely take place as planned," he said.

The three games were postponed after the Irish Government sought to protect its borders by imposing a 28-day movement ban only due to be lifted after the last recorded outbreak in the UK.

But this weekend's entry by Irish sides into the Celtic League suggested a softening of its stance.

The other two games still outstanding are Ireland versus Wales in Cardiff on October 13 and Ireland versus Scotland at Murrayfield on September 22.

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