RFU pondering delayed start for England and France in Six Nations

A delayed start by a week to the Six Nations tournament for England and France are amongst the several proposals planned by the Rugby Football Union ahead of the global calendar that will be in place from 2020.

The proposal means Scotland, Ireland, Wales and Italy will be seen in action in the opening week of the tournament while England and France will join the teams in the second round before facing each other in the third which has been a rest weekend for the teams since 2000.

The motive behind the suggestion was to help the Anglo-French domestic competitions have limited interruptions especially with the much awaited global calendar around the corner in less than three years time.

The proposal needs to be approved by the Six Nations committee, which has currently declined to comment on the issue.

The idea, however, did not go well with the England players according to Rugby Players' Association chief executive Damian Hopley.

"The players do not support shortening the Six Nations. Not one England player I have spoken to believes this is a good idea," Hopley told the Evening Standard.

"Playing four internationals in a row in the autumn is not the same as the intensity of the Six Nations. It is the most popular global annual rugby competition and there is intense pressure on the players."