World Rugby rings the changes for global calendar from 2020

WORLD Rugby have revealed details of a ground-breaking global rugby calendar that will come into effect in 2020 and run until 2032.

Three of the four major international windows – Six Nations, Rugby Championship and autumn internationals – remain largely untouched.

However, the summer tour window will be moved back a month to July in order to allow the Super Rugby season to run uninterrupted and allow appropriate preparation time ahead of the summer Tests.

In that July window, the Tests will take place in the first three weeks of the month, with the exception of a year after the Rugby World Cup when SANZAAR nations – South Africa, New Zealand, Argentina and Australia -–will host a two-Test series.

It’s not a move that exactly plays into the hands of the likes of Wales. With the Guinness Pro12 final in May, it would mean that even if a Welsh region makes it to the final, players would go five weeks without playing any rugby before the summer tour. That said, now the announcement has been made, it opens the door for leagues to plan their calendar.

In other changes, the autumn international window will see the Tests brought forward a week, meaning the window once again comprises of the first three weeks of the month.

The Rugby World Cup will also be brought forward a week to kick off in the second week of September.

The announcement is also good news for emerging rugby nations like Georgia and Romania, will be integrated into the July and November windows with the SANZAAR nations committed to hosting Tier Two nations in the summer window.