RFU chief gives his backing to summer rugby plans

BILL Sweeney, chief of the Rugby Football Union, is throwing his weight behind plans for rugby to become more of a summer sport.

Sweeney is a part of a working group considering a radical overhaul of the game’s global calendar, with alignment of the seasons in the two hemispheres.

A key part of that includes moving the Six Nations to April and pushing the Lions tour to South Africa back from July to August.

He cites the success of rugby league in becoming a summer sport as an avenue union could look at.

“The rugby league one is interesting because I had heard continually that when they switched, they lost awareness and participation, but I spoke to them and they said it was the best thing they have done,”

Sweeney told Sky Sports.

“Their regret was that they did not do it sooner.

“It is one of the ones where you have to drill into the facts and have a balanced discussion about it, making a decision that is in the best interests of the game.”

Of the prospect of the Lions tour being put back a month, Sweeney feels organisers need to, but can, get around the fact that 19,000 fans have already paid to travel for the dates previously arranged.

“That would definitely be a factor, no question, but you cannot have a conversation on the global calendar and not include the Lions,” he added.

“People have looked at the tour for next year and in 2025. It would be a massive logistical challenge with fans having committed to their holidays.”