Rugby
ESPN staff 7y

England, France could limit Six Nations involvement to six weeks

Rugby, Six Nations

England and France could skip the opening round of the Six Nations from 2020, according to a report in The Times.

The newspaper reported on Wednesday that the RFU was considering a proposal that would see the two countries cut their involvement in the tournament to six weeks.

Currently the championship is staged over seven weeks, with two rest weekends factored in.

Under this proposal, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales would all contest the opening round, with England and France joining in a week later and then facing each other in the first rest weekend.

It is understood that the proposition is club-led and is one of several on the table, but as yet it has not been discussed by the RFU.

Reports of the proposal come at a time when player welfare has become an increasingly important issue, amid suggestions that Aviva Premiership season could be extended to 11 months from 2020 as part of the new global season.

Last week Billy Vunipola warned that players could strike unless more was done to ease the burden on players.

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