Global World Rugby season in 'embryo stage'

Newly re-elected World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont on Sunday said plans for a global season are in the early phases of discussion.

The former England captain, who beat ex-Argentina skipper Agustin Pichot to the position at the weekend, said the coronavirus pandemic encouraged the idea of northern and southern hemisphere campaigns aligning.

Reports in Britain's The Rugby Paper claim European sides and teams from countries such as World Cup winners South Africa could play at the same time of the year.

“These are very much in the embryo stage at the moment. People are talking because what has stimulated the debate is the position regarding this year,” the 68-year-old Beaumont said.



Challenges

“The north go south in one month then immediately afterwards the sides would go north. We have to bear in mind that we have to take all stakeholders with us,” he added.

Beaumont admitted to facing challenges from various leagues, unions and domestic sides based in Europe. “In the north, we have to take the club game with you; we have to take the European game with us. We are in dialogue with all the stakeholders,” he said.

“It's more problems in certain areas when you have more stakeholders.”

- NAMPA/AFP