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Joey Carbery on the attack when Ireland hosted Italy last August. James Crombie/INPHO

World Rugby paves the way for November tournaments in both hemispheres

The Rugby Championship will be held entirely in New Zealand while ‘invited teams’ will join the current Six Nations teams if a motion passes at next week’s council meeting.

WORLD RUGBY HAS paved the way for the proposed autumn schedules by officially recommending a temporary Test window to run from 24 October to 5 December in the northern hemisphere.

The window will run to 12 December to accommodate the southern hemisphre’s Rugby Championship.

The window for international fixtures opens the door for the postponed Six Nations fixtures to be played on the weekends of 24 and 31 October – with Ireland’s clashes with Italy and France set to be played on those respective dates.

A rest week for the weekend of 7 November is among the recommendations ahead of a mooted eight-team tournament between the teams in the current Six Nations plus ‘invited teams’. Fiji and either Georgia or Japan are the leading contenders.

In the southern hemisphere, the game’s governing body confirmed that the Rugby Championship will be staged entirely in New Zealand – where the coronavirus threat has been contained – between 7 November and 12 December.

“Special measures will be implemented to deal with any government-required quarantine period prior to the start of the competition,” said the statement.

The recommendations to temporarily change Regulation 9 until 13 December will be put before World Rugby Council on 30 July, with fixtures to follow if the motion passes next week.

“Seeking to reconcile the interests of the international game, the professional club game and player welfare,” read the statement, “temporary windows have been determined following extensive and productive consultation between World Rugby, international competitions, national unions, their professional club competitions and International Rugby Players.”

The statement added: “All parties remain committed to continued dialogue regarding long-term men’s and women’s calendar reform that harmonises the international and club environments for the betterment of all.”

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    Mute Kingshu
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    Jul 22nd 2020, 4:28 PM

    Will fiji and Japan be based in Europe durning this?

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    Mute TL55
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    Jul 22nd 2020, 5:09 PM

    @Kingshu: I would assume so as the window seems too short for team to be travelling back & forth to Japan or Fiji

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    Mute Mark Smith
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    Jul 22nd 2020, 5:48 PM

    @Kingshu:

    Not only that but possibly remain in isolation for the time they are here like the West Indies cricket team are doing at present

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    Mute Aaron Tynan
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    Jul 22nd 2020, 6:11 PM

    @Kingshu: I don’t understand why Fiji is up in the northern hemisphere?
    Would it not make more sense to have them be based in New Zealand and play against the rugby championship teams?

    Georgia definitely should play, and Japan at a stretch.

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    Mute The Logic
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    Jul 22nd 2020, 8:25 PM

    @Aaron Tynan: because most of Fiji’s players are based in France and England.

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    Mute The Logic
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    Jul 22nd 2020, 8:30 PM

    @Kingshu: I’d say it’ll be Fiji and Georgia rather than Japan. Either way, yes they’ll be based in Europe. This won’t be home and away fixtures. The talk has been two groups of four, so three games each, plus a final between the two group winners. Probably have each group based at one venue, Twickenham and Aviva maybe. Sounds like a great plan to me and hope it comes to pass.

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    Mute Lesidees
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    Jul 22nd 2020, 7:38 PM

    Any news on whether those who had tickets for the postponed 6 nations matches will be allowed in?

    Asking for a friend

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    Mute robert o mahony
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    Jul 23rd 2020, 1:04 AM

    Would love to see Japan after what they have done they deserve it. I don’t think they will be whipping boys of the tournament either.

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