World club championship closer to reality as part of potential new rugby calendar

The idea of a new world club championship is closer to becoming reality, with World Rugby hopeful of agreeing a new global calendar by the end of the year.

The governing body's council meets in November, with talks ongoing for the English Premiership and Pro12 to start later in the year and finish at the end of June, which would align those competitions to the southern hemisphere's Super Rugby tournament. 

It is understood that the Six Nations would not be moved from its traditional February to March slot, but that summer tours could be scrapped in years following World Cups to protect player fitness.

Any new structure would come into place after the World Cup in 2019

"Discussions are positive, strong momentum is being generated and all stakeholders are focused on delivering a calendar that is to the benefit of the whole game by the end of the year," a World rugby spokesperson was quoted as saying by the Times.

Emerging nations such as the United States and Japan will be given more regular international games, while the British and Irish Lions series will remain in the calendar, according to negotiations led by World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont.

The changes to the global calendar are expected to be tabled in the next council meeting in November, the reports said.