The RFU is considering proposals for one of the most radical changes in the history of the Six Nations Championship.
The proposal by the Premiership clubs would mean that England and France play their first games a week after Wales, Ireland, Scotland and Italy.
There has been no proposal to RFU professional game board to shorten Six Nations or contact with France . It’s a Prem clubs idea
— chris jones (@chrisjonespress) September 20, 2017
Since the tournament changed from five nations to six in 2000, all participants have played over the first weekend. However, the RFU is considering a proposal from the clubs that, from 2020, England and France should skip the first round of matches.
Under this plan the other four nations would play in the opening weekend, all six countries would play in the second weekend and the England v France fixture would stand alone in the third weekend, when there are usually no games.
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England’s preferred solution would involve all the nations agreeing to a six-week schedule, something the Celtic teams have reiterated, are not interested due to the attritional nature of the tournament and the size of their squads.