The move would be part of World Rugby’s plans to create a global rugby calendar.
World Rugby, alongside various other stakeholders in the game, met in London this week to discuss potential changes to the sport’s calendar.
Seeking to align the hemisphere’s playing schedules to unburden international players from playing year-round, a number of possible solutions were muted.
One possibility explored at the meeting was the creation of a new international tournament which would take place in July and November during seasons in which there is no World Cup or British and Irish Lions tour.
The tournament would take the place of the traditional summer tours and Autumn test series, with a new two-division cross-hemisphere competition being explored.
Six Nations sides, SANZAAR nations and emerging countries such as Georgia and Romania would all be included in this proposed format.
Rugby Championship sides, Six Nations teams and emerging nations would all be included in the new tournament. (Credit: Getty Images)World Rugby discuss potential for new international tournament.
It is seen as an opportune way to simultaneously decrease the strain being placed on international players, whilst also affording smaller nations the chance to regularly compete against more established sides.
“All stakeholders are motivated by the opportunity for more teams to advance on the world stage, ultimately leading to more competitive Rugby World Cups”, a statement from World Rugby said.
Unlike tournaments such as the Six Nations or the Rugby Championship, this proposed competition would include a promotion/ relegation element to encourage larger nations to take it seriously.
“This mission is underpinned by the principle of promotion and relegation between the divisions, which reflects the vision of a global game”, World Rugby added.
Amongst the stakeholders in attendance at this London meeting were the International Rugby Players Union, board members from the British and Irish Lions, and representatives from the Six Nations and Rugby Championship.
The group is set to meet again in Paris this October following the World Cup, where the international global season structure will be discussed in greater detail.
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