FESTIVAL OF RUGBY IN THE NORTH
The Northern Hemisphere
is believed to be planning to host what will effectively be a revamped and expanded Six Nations later this year to try to drive revenue back into the game.
According to various reports, the decision has already been reached that the planned November test schedule will not be able to take place due to travel restrictions.
An alternative plan has already been hatched and this will see the Six Nations plus Fiji and Japan split into two groups of four and play in November.
The respective winners of each pool will meet in a final on December 5.
New Zealand had been scheduled to play a test in Tokyo on the way to playing England, Wales and Scotland in November.
Instead, it is now believed they will arrange an extended test series against the Wallabies, with the first of possibly four Bledisloe Cup games to start in Wellington on October 10.