A new global rugby tournament which will see northern hemisphere teams face their southern hemisphere counterparts every two years from 2026 has been agreed, according to reports.
The new league structure, which the Telegraph report has now been agreed, will only include international games taking place in the summer and autumn windows, with two groups of six teams from each hemisphere (Six Nations and Rugby Championship sides) being joined by Japan and Fiji.
Northern hemisphere sides are set to play three southern opponents away from home in the July window, with the return fixture played in the November window. The top sides from each pool would face off in a grand final.
That means traditional summer tours to one host country will come to an end, except for Lions tour years.
The report adds that from 2030, a promotion and relegation could be brought in to provide a pathway from a second-tier competition set to be launched in 2024 for nations including Georgia, Samoa and Tonga.
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Talks on the new competition have been ongoing for some time, with the role of the Six Nations a debating point. It now appears that competition will be ring-fenced and play no part in the wider global tournament. It also means an end to speculation over future Six Nations promotion and relegation.
Unions and stakeholders are said to be confident the plan will not diminish the Rugby World Cup, which is held every four years.
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