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Rugby

RFU wants to reduce Six Nations tournament

The Rugby Football Union (RFU) is in favour of reducing the Six Nations tournament by one week. T...



RFU wants to reduce Six Nation...
Rugby

RFU wants to reduce Six Nations tournament

The Rugby Football Union (RFU) is in favour of reducing the Six Nations tournament by one week.

The RFU wants to remove one of the two weeks from the current format where teams are on a break, and is hoping to run the new six-week championship after the 2019 World Cup.

The proposed changes will form part of the new global season - a new framework that will see new changes to the rugby calendar, including the June international window being switched to July, and the November window will be brought forward by one week.

These RFU recommendations will be discussed at a Six Nations review meeting in April where RFU chief executive Ian Richie will lobby for its approval.

Ritchie is quoted on the BBC Sport website as saying:

"We think it would improve it. It would narrow the 'off' periods and help with the broader narrative."

Image: Simon Zebo is possession against England in the Six Nations finale.

"It's absolutely right to always be thinking about what to do to enhance, improve and make the Six Nations better," added Ritchie.

"We think it is a good route. It may well be that others agree or disagree."

There are concerns however, regarding player welfare, should the competition be run over consecutive weeks. England prop told Joe Marler The Independent:

"I get paid to play for my club and my country and they set how many games a year we play. I just get on with it. But to play all the Six Nations games in a row would be tough. Five Test matches would be a lot.

"As it is, with the breaks, it is good for the body. We are there or thereabouts the limit of fixtures for the season.

"It is well documented that boys are quicker, bigger strong and the impacts are bigger so it takes longer to recover."

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