Top Prem bosses in Test ruck

PREMIERSHIP bosses have criticised World Rugby’s ‘unilateral decision’ to stage extra Test matches in December.

Premiership Rugby has called on World Rugby to come back to the negotiating table over the game’s rescheduling in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

English top-flight chiefs are taking exception to World Rugby plans to stage the southern hemisphere

Rugby Championship between November 7 and December 12.

English teams would lose their southern hemisphere Test talents for one week of club fixtures and the first weekend of the Champions Cup – with next season’s Gallagher Premiership campaign slated to start on November 20.

And domestic governing body Premiership Rugby has urged global bosses to think again.

“In response to the statement from World Rugby in which a temporary international calendar for 2020 has been recommended, PreWorld miership Rugby urges further discussion to find a calendar solution for the global game as a whole to allow the 2020 season to be played out,” read a Premiership Rugby statement.

“Exceptional circumstances have been created for sport by the Covid19 pandemic, and discussions between the Premiership and the RFU on how to accommodate the needs of the international and club game in England during the global pandemic have been progressing positively.

“Premiership Rugby now urges

Rugby to restart the global discussions to unify the Unions and professional leagues and agree to a temporary plan that works for all.”

World Rugby confirmed plans for an extended autumn Test schedule, to run from October 24 until November 5.

This set of fixtures would allow for the completion of the postponed Six Nations, and also a number of autumn Test matches.

Premiership bosses have reacted

Premiership Rugby urges World Rugby to restart the global discussions Premiership Rugby statement

with frustration, however, insisting their own talks with the Rugby Football Union (RFU) have been constructive on how best to complete the complex fixture puzzle. The delayed 2019-20 season will restart on August 14, with top-flight clubs able to complete the campaign blighted by the pandemic. The 2020-21 Premiership season will then start on November 20, in a bid to be completed ahead of the British and Irish Lions’ July 2021 tour to South Africa.