According to Sportsmail, the Six Nations may face resistance from players due to their plan to eliminate one of their rest weeks in a contentious decision.
Starting in 2026, tournament organizers have suggested shortening the competition from seven to six weeks, providing players with only one weekend off throughout the Championship.
The proposal arose during negotiations between unions and clubs about a new world league scheduled to begin in 2026 and held biennially.
According to Telegraph Sport, rugby governing bodies have agreed upon a new blueprint for a global league that will feature a "grand final" every two years between the northern and southern hemisphere teams.
Additionally, the Six Nations Championship will be ringfenced under this plan. The new league structure, set to begin in 2026, will include only summer and autumn window games and will comprise of two groups of six teams from each hemisphere, namely the Six Nations and Rugby Championship sides.
The inclusion of Japan and Fiji is also expected.
According to The Telegraph, the new format means:
The current format of the Six Nations Championship will be ring-fenced, ending any hope South Africa held of joining the European competition or for the introduction of promotion and relegation.
Northern hemisphere sides will play three southern opponents away from home in the July window, bringing to an end the traditional summer tours of two or three Tests against one host country.
The fixtures will be replicated at the home venues of the northern hemisphere nations in the November window, with the top team from each pool facing each other in a grand final, and ranking play-off games for the others.
The tournament will be held every two years from 2026, with fixtures rotated so that every side plays against each other over a two-tournament cycle
From 2030, a promotion and relegation could be introduced to provide a pathway from a second-tier competition which is expected to be launched next year for nations including Georgia, Samoa and Tonga.
All stakeholders are confident it will not diminish the status of the Rugby World Cup, and it will be marketed as a battle of the hemispheres.
The future of the British and Irish Lions tours will be secured and in Lions years countries able to stage traditional tours as normal, and include more fixtures against tier two countries to enhance their development.
NIGEL OWENS: MY TOP 5 CAPTAINS
#5. Chris Robshaw (England)
Owens said: Some people will be surprised at this one to start off. His misfortune was perhaps to be leading England during a difficult time, but he always gave everything for the cause, encouraging others to follow suit, and he was a nice guy off the pitch."
Dejection for Chris Robshaw, Co-Captain of England and the rest of the team after the Quilter Cup Match between England and Barbarians at Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London on May 27. - PHOTO: Phil Mingo/PPAUK
#4. Jean de Villiers (South Africa)
Owens said: "He was not only a great rugby player but also a great leader and a great man. Whenever I came across him on the field, he impressed me."
Jean de Villiers Captain of South Africa leads his side out against England - Photo mandatory by-line: Gareth Davies/Pinnacle - Tel: +44(0)1363 881025 - Mobile:0797 1270 681 - VAT Reg No: 768 6958 48 - 15/11/2014 - SPORT - QBE Internationals - RUGBY UNION - England v South Africa - Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London, England
#3. Richie McCaw (New Zealand)
Owens said: "He’s right up on any list of rugby’s greatest players.
"Maybe he will be at the top for many people.
"New Zealand won something like nine out of every 10 games in which he led them, but the mark of Richie McCaw was how he conducted himself when the All Blacks lost."
#2. Paul O'Connell & Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland)
Owens said: "I’m classing this as a joint-ticket as whenever I seemed to ref Ireland in their day O’Driscoll was captain and O’Connell was vice-skipper.
"O’Driscoll actually used to tell me if there were issues with the forwards then I should chat to O’Connell.
I found them excellent to deal with."
#1. Thierry Dusautoir (France)
Owens said: "My choice as the best skipper I encountered may raise a few eyebrows, but what a captain Dusautoir was. He unfailingly put his body on the line throughout his career — recall the 38 tackles he made when France knocked the All Blacks out of the 2007 World Cup — led by example and understood the game very well."
TRENDING
LATEST NEWS
LATEST COMMENTS
Loading