Paris (AFP)
Discussions on the issue of harmonizing the calendar between the hemispheres have made "significant progress" and the various parties are working to formulate a recommendation on the future of this calendar for May 2021, World Rugby announced on Tuesday.
The body of world rugby has been working for several months on this thorny issue of the alignment of competitions in the northern hemisphere and the southern hemisphere, which is not without causing turmoil within the clubs.
This is one of the main projects for the president of World Rugby, the Englishman Bill Beaumont, re-elected in early May.
"Discussions concerning the future international rugby calendar are continuing in a positive and consultative manner with representatives from World Rugby, federations, international and national competitions as well as the International Rugby Players (International Association of Players), all determined to explore and consider a solution that will produce the best possible results for all, "said the body of world rugby in a statement.
"Significant progress has been made to date and all parties are working on a recommendation on the future of the international calendar to be submitted to the World Rugby board at its meeting in the month of May 2021 ", she added.
The Covid-19 pandemic, which put world sport on hold for several months, has already pushed world rugby leaders to review the calendar for the year 2020.
A series of six matches is thus planned in the Northern Hemisphere from late October to early December - against three usually - including the end of the 2020 Six Nations Tournament which had been postponed due to the health crisis.
In the Southern Hemisphere, the Rugby Championship, which brings together world champion South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Argentina, is to take place from November 7 to December 12 in Australia.
It usually started during the summer.
World Rugby has set up three working groups "on competition format, player well-being and financial impact assessment" to assess the impact of such harmonization and "make recommendations" .
"These groups, which are made up of representatives of players, international competitions and professional clubs, are studying both the optimization of the current international windows of July and November, as well as the consequences that a combined window on October / November could have. ", specifies the press release from World Rugby.
© 2020 AFP