The RFU’s proposal to condense the Six Nations Championship into a six-week schedule from 2020 appears to be dead in the water after France allegedly voted against the plan.
The RFU motion would have seen England and France sit out the first weekend of fixtures, all teams compete on the second weekend, and France and England play each other in the third, usually a rest week under the current format.
However, Wales, Ireland, Scotland and Italy are in favour of keeping the present format of five rounds played over seven weeks with two rest periods.
France have rejected England’s proposal to shorten the Six Nations to a six-week tournament
The quartet were supported by France at a Six Nations board meeting on Monday to vote on the RFU proposal of losing one bye week, which England lost by five to one, according to reports.
The RFU proposal would only have succeeded if all nations had agreed to a six-week schedule.
England won a second consecutive Six Nations title in 2017. But Eddie Jones’ side were denied the grand slam by Ireland, who beat them in Dublin in the final round of matches.
England won a second-straight Six Nations title in 2017, despite final day defeat by Ireland