Proposals for an international rugby 'world league' could heavily impact the Six Nations amid reports plans are being considered to reduce the tournament to just six weeks.
The northern hemisphere's international showcase traditionally features two 'fallow' weeks sandwiched either side of the third round. However, the Daily Mail reported Six Nations bosses have offered to forgo one of those rest weeks to help make room for the potential arrival of a biannual world competition.
It's a decision that threatens to cause dissent among players, with many figures in the sport concerned the club and international schedule is becoming too congested. Plans for an international contest featuring some of the best national teams in the world have been mooted for some time and could launch in 2026.
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The plans have been proposed as an alternative to the current model of summer and autumn Tests in an effort to disrupt the current calendar as little as possible. However, there are bound to be concerns over the additional fatigue and possible increase in injury as a result of Six Nations players having less rest.
The Daily Mail reported players have not been directly consulted over the purported proposals, similar to the RFU's sudden introduction of radical tackle-height laws in January. At a time when player welfare and the lasting effects of repeat head injuries are of such high importance, that disconnection between players and authorities appears troubling.
Each round of the Six Nations was initially held two weeks apart when the tournament debuted in its current format in 2000, but increasing commitments elsewhere has led to a much more compact competition. Given there's already so little room for rest over the seven weeks, the report went on to suggest proposals to cut the tournament down further are 'likely to meet fierce resistance'.
Europe's Test rugby scene already witnessed major controversy this year when Wales' game against England came close to being called off amid the threat of the former's players striking. Welsh rugby is in a state of disrepair amid financial troubles on the club and international scenes, though this latest news could cause push-back from across the Six Nations participants.
The 'world league' plans would reportedly see the elite six of the northern hemisphere travel south of the equator to each face three opponents during the current July Test window. Southern-hemisphere teams would then travel north in the November window, culminating in a 'grand final' between the top teams from each of the two groups.
Although the new-look tournament has been framed as a way of driving interest in rugby and capturing a more worldwide audience, its potential impact on the Six Nations could harm those players in the long-term. Gaining more global traction is considered crucial for rugby at a time when participation and viewership numbers are struggling, but these latest proposals appear likely to cause further discomfort before they provide any solutions.
