Fiji and Japan to be included in proposed World Rugby Nations Championship

Fiji and Japan will be the big winners as the proposed World Rugby Nations Championship looks increasingly likely to go ahead.

Stuff.co reports that the game's decision‑makers are meeting in Los Angeles this week, with the introduction of a global league at the forefront of discussions.

The proposed new tournament would see the 12 leading nations play each other once throughout the year, with Fiji and Japan set to join Rugby Championship participants New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Argentina from the southern hemisphere.

The new league seems likely to go ahead after being given approval to progress today in Los Angeles.

The top team from the southern hemisphere would reportedly take on the best of the Six Nations teams, England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, France and Italy, at a neutral venue at the conclusion of the tournament, with Camp Nou – the home of famous football club Barcelona even touted as a possible finals venue.

The new tournament would not be staged in World Cup years, while a modified version may occur during the British and Irish Lions tour.

But the biggest shake‑up is a proposal for relegation from the Six Nations.

Relegation would work with the bottom‑ranked European nation after the championship taking on the winner of the Europe Rugby Championship, with the winner taking up a place in the following year's competition.

The Rugby Championship would continue to be held in August and September and would act as the top tier, with Japan and Fiji joining the competition.

The second division would comprise six teams from the Pacific Nations Cup and the Americas Championship.

Logic suggests the top team in the second division would also play off against the bottom team from the top tier each year.