After an unnerving 24 hours for everyone in Irish rugby, it appears that the impending level three restrictions might be a blessing for the Six Nations.
With the IRFU's finances in parlous order as is, the potential abandonment of the Six Nations would have led to a shortfall of several million euros. The lower level means that the games can go ahead in some form, with there even talk of Ireland taking advantage of the border situation should the situation change for the worse.
So could Ireland relocate to Belfast?
"Potentially," said Ruaidhri O'Connor of the Irish Independent. "Philip Browne did a briefing on this a couple of weeks ago and I asked: 'If crowds were allowed in Belfast or London, would you potentially move games there to drum up some revenue?'
"He said that it wasn't on the cards [then] but that he wouldn't rule anything in or out.
"What would it have looked like if 35 or 36 players and their coaches effectively broke lockdown and went to Belfast and trained? I don't know if people would think that looks bad or as if it makes complete sense."
Irish rugby
It is also an imposition on the players that would be otherwise unwelcome.
"The numbers aren't particularly good in Belfast. You are also asking players to leave on jurisdiction and effectively leave their families for a six to eight week period.
"I believe they are going into a pretty harsh bubble for the tournament as it stands, they are going to be in Carton House more than they would be, and will be spending less time with their families than they normally would.
"But to ask them to go into a strict bubble in the same way that the NBA has done [...] would be quite difficult. Rugby players are not paid all that much money and some of them might wonder whether it is worth it.
"The North has generally moved in lock-step with the South when it comes to health stuff; not exactly, but would the local executive have gone against it?
"Their imperative is just to keep the show on the road because another stoppage."
Sexton
With the Six Nations in the offing, it is only traditional that a certain Ireland player's fitness is on the news agenda.
"I know it is an unusual Six Nations window at the end of October, but it wouldn't be a Six Nations if there wasn't a cloud over Johnny Sexton's fitness. He generally pulls through.
"You have to take it seriously. Certainly, they are sounding fairly positive noises around it."
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