The tournament was founded back in 1883 and has very slowly expanded to its current number of participants. In fact, it's been 12 years since Italy became the 6th nation. It can't be healthy for the sport, or the teams, to keep having the same teams play each other. It's in danger of getting as pointless as international cricket.
After last year's Rugby World Cup, I can't help feeling that too little is being done to expand the global reach of the game, and definitely not enough is being done to strengthen the nations that do play internationally but not at the same standard as the 6 nations teams.
There aren't many things that rugby union can learn from football but I do wonder whether a re-organisation of the European game, along the lines that football does, might benefit everyone.
I suggest that the 6 Nations is scrapped. It serves little purpose other than a cash cow for the national unions. This is wrong because there are other nations, not that much worse than Italy, who miss out.
To replace the 6 Nations I suggest that there is a European championship (like Euro 2012) that is held midway between the World Cup and, in the year before the Euro tournament and the year before the World Cup, there should be a qualifying tournament. No more automatic qualification for the "big" nations.
My suggested format would widen the interest in rugby union, help strengthen the next tier of nations, and keep the big nations on their toes. There'd be a broader range of opponents and fantastic experience for the likes of Romania, Germany, Georgia and Spain.
I fear the 6 Nations has become a pointless parade that is self serving. Change is needed to foster the future of the sport.
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