LONDON: Former England captain Bill Beaumont has urged officials against tampering with a "successful formula" by staging Six Nations matches outside Europe.
World Rugby chief executive Brett Gosper said last year the game's governing would not stand in the way of any moves to stage Six Nations matches beyond the competing countries of England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, France and Italy.
The Australian's comments came as evidence emerged of rugby union's growing popularity in the emerging market of North America, with world champions' New Zealand's match against the United States in November played in front of a sell-out crowd at Chicago's Soldier Field.
However, Six Nations chairman Beaumont said the tournament's committee had no plans to take the Championship out of Europe.
"If you've got a successful formula, don't change it," Beaumont said at the 2015 Six Nations launch in London on Wednesday.
"My personal view is that home fixtures obviously drive interest in that country, and it would be a very, very brave man to say 'I'm going to give up a home game and take it to Chicago'.
"That's never ever been discussed by us at the Six Nations," added the former lock, who captained England to a Grand Slam in the then Five Nations back in 1980.
"Perhaps that would work for one-off games if European teams want to go and do that, but not for the Six Nations."
Beaumont said the way in which supporters mingled at Six Nations matches helped give the tournament a "unique" quality that should be preserved.
"The tribalism and the craic that you have, the fun between the rivalries, that's unique in rugby," said Beaumont.
"You can be the most passionate England supporter, you can be sat next to the most fervent Welsh supporter, and you can have great banter during the game, shake hands at the end of the game and maybe go for a pint together.
"That's the essence of the game, that's the essence of this competition," added Beaumont, who also captained the 1980 British and Irish Lions in South Africa.
"The unpredictability of results within that Championship means everyone will have their favourites of who they think will win, but you don't actually know.
"And that is the great thing about it: the rivalry and the tribalism that comes with it.
"And also the fun for the spectators, it's very much part of the European rugby DNA, going to a game and supporting your team."
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