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.”
