RUGBY MATTERS
A weekly look at the game’s other talking points
BRENDAN GALLAGHER

ALL eyes on the Six Nations but the Rugby Europe Championship also kicks off next week and as a competition including three nations heading to the World Cup and another, Spain, who thought they had booked a ticket is worthy of more than the occasional glance.
Rugby in Europe’s underbelly is beginning to punch above its weight despite no help from the Six Nations, evidenced by the fact that Portugal, who finished fourth in last year’s championship before Spain were docked points, defeated the USA in the ...