Rugby's autumn 2020 tests to be replaced by 8-team tournament.

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Autumn Tests to be replaced by eight-team tournament
By Tom English & Chris JonesBBC Sport

Last updated on 4 hours ago4 hours ago.From the section Rugby UnionWho can still win the Six Nations?
No decision has been taken yet on whether fans will be allowed into the Six Nations matches, but the RFU is hopeful supporters will be able to attend games in the new tournament.

RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney said last month the union is planning for up to 40,000 fans to be able to attend the Twickenham Tests, pending government approval.

England will face Wales, Ireland and Fiji in one group, with the latter two fixtures at Twickenham and the venue of the first game still to be decided.

In the other pool, Scotland will host Japan and France at Murrayfield and face Italy in Rome.

The tournament will be staged on four consecutive weekends until 5 December, with each team facing their equivalent in the other pool on the final weekend, with the venue to be decided.

Official confirmation of the schedule and the venues is expected in August.

It means Gregor Townsend's side's Autumn internationals against Argentina and New Zealand have been cancelled, while the one against Japan could be moved.

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Six Nations: 2020 tournament to be completed in October

Last updated on 2 hours ago2 hours ago.From the section Rugby Union

England lead the men's and women's 2020 Six Nations tournaments
The men's and women's Six Nations will be completed in October after World Rugby approved a new temporary international window.

The remaining rounds of both tournaments will be played on 24 and 31 October.

That will be followed by a rest weekend on 7-8 November before four consecutive rounds of international matches.

In the southern hemisphere, the 2020 Rugby Championship will be played from 7 November to 12 December.

Sanzaar (South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina Rugby), which organises the competition, has asked New Zealand to host all of the tournament matches.

What's the state of play in the Six Nations?
The tournament was suspended in March because of Covid-19 with four matches in the men's competition to be completed and six in the women's competition.

England are top of the standings in the men's competition with 13 points, ahead of France on points difference. All teams have one left game to play apart from Ireland, who have two.

Ireland will take on Italy on 24 October, the same day as the Premiership final.

England then plan to play the Barbarians the following day.

The final round of 2020 men's matches will then all take place on 31 October, with Wales hosting Scotland, England playing Italy in Rome and Ireland facing France.

Wales will have to host their home fixtures away from the Principality Stadium after chief executive Martyn Phillips confirmed there will be no more international matches at the ground this year because it is being used as a temporary hospital during the coronavirus pandemic.

This year's autumn Tests are then expected to be replaced by an eight-team tournament in which the Six Nations sides will be joined by Japan and Fiji.

World Rugby chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said in a statement: "The global Covid-19 pandemic has been unprecedented in its impact on society and sport and throughout this process, all parties have sought to deliver the best-possible outcome to support the interests of international and club rugby and the players.

"Agreement and approval of this schedule is exciting for players and fans and an important step in supporting our unions in mitigating financial impact and optimising the sport's return from the pandemic in an equitable way.

"These matches will be greatly anticipated by all, and I would like to thank unions, the international and club competitions and players for their input and the fans for their patience as we have sought to get international rugby back up and running."

England lead the men's standings

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Six Nations confirms rescheduled dates for men's and women's tournaments

Last updated on 52 minutes ago52 minutes ago.From the section Rugby Union

England lead the men's and women's 2020 Six Nations tournaments
The Six Nations has confirmed the dates for the outstanding fixtures from the 2020 men's and women's championships.

Both competitions were suspended in March amid the coronavirus pandemic with four matches in the men's event to be completed and six in the women's.

Ireland will face Italy at the Aviva Stadium on 24 October to resume the men's tournament.

The last round of the competition, involving all six teams, will take place on 31 October.

Wales will face Scotland at a venue yet to be confirmed, Italy will host England at the Stadio Olimpico and France will play Ireland at the Stade de France.

England are top of the standings in the men's competition with 13 points, ahead of France on points difference.

• Who can still win the Six Nations?

The women's competition will resume with Scotland facing France and Ireland taking on Italy on 24 October.

On 31 October, Wales play Scotland, Italy host England and France face Ireland.

The remaining fixture between Italy and Scotland will be played on 5 December.

England also lead the women's competition, eight points ahead of France, who have a game in hand.

Six Nations said it had prioritised "the health and safety of players, associated staff and supporters" in rescheduling the matches.

"We remain in close contact with all relevant authorities across the respective jurisdictions to ensure these matches take place in a safe environment and we will announce further details of health and safety protocols and guidance on spectator attendance in due course," it added.

Wales will have to host their home fixtures away from the Principality Stadium after chief executive Martyn Phillips confirmed there will be no more international matches at the ground this year because it is being used as a temporary hospital during the coronavirus pandemic.

World Rugby approved a new temporary international window to allow the Six Nations to be completed.

The 2020 men's Autumn Tests are set to be replaced by an eight-team tournament in which the Six Nations sides will be joined by Japan and Fiji, which will begin on 14 November.

Men's fixtures
24 October: Ireland v Italy - Aviva Stadium - Time TBC

31 October: Wales v Scotland - Venue TBC (14:15 GMT), Italy v England - Stadio Olimpico (16:45), France v Ireland - Stade de France (20:00)

Women's fixtures
24 October: Scotland v France, Ireland v Italy

31 October: Wales v Scotland, Italy v England, France v Ireland

5 December: Italy v Scotland

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