What will the men’s international rugby calendar look like in 2024?

Over the last month, World Rugby has confirmed that it is working on a new men’s international rugby calendar, but it does seem like any changes will be made until the 2024 season.

Men’s rugby international calendar

In February 2021, World Rugby stated that “discussions regarding the future international rugby calendar continue in a positive and consultative manner after an agreement was reached on a set of principles that will pave the way to explore possible new competition formats for international men’s 15s within the July and November international windows.”

International Rugby Players also released a press statement urging rugby clubs and unions to “fully collaborate in order to achieve a global season that works for all.”  The global player’s body said it has “been working closely with key stakeholders in the game to find a solution to the issue, last year issuing a list of key principles that outlined minimum conditions for any future tournament.”

International Rugby Players CEO Omar Hassanein said: “As discussions move forward in a timely manner, we will continue to stress the importance of travel, load and recovery factors for players. But, to ensure that a real solution is found which works for everyone, we need clubs, unions, governing bodies and tournament organisers to set aside any historic differences and make decisions based solely on the betterment of our game.

“With all sides working together, I am confident that we will find a long term model that works for players and fans alike, increases broadcast interest, boosts the financial position of the game and strategically grows emerging nations.”

World Rugby added that “Three dedicated working groups – competition format, player welfare and financial impact evaluation – featuring player, international competition and professional club league representation have been examining the comparative merits of the current July and November international windows and a combined October/November window.”

Credit: World Rugby

The set of principles which underpin the development of new competition formats are:

1. Any new competition format should also aim to improve player welfare when transitioning between club and country environments, optimising travel, rest and training load with further collaborative dialogue planned between international and domestic competitions to address this.
2. Any new competition format should increase the competitiveness of the global game, offering greater opportunities for emerging nations and develop new commercial revenues.
3. Any new competition format would not operate in a men’s Rugby World Cup year and would be modified in a British and Irish Lions year.
4. Any new competition would not launch before 2024.
5. World Rugby, The Nations and International Rugby Players will continue to explore and refine possible new international competition formats to optimise the July and November windows. This process has underlined the importance of partnership and consultation with the professional club game as key to achieving optimal outcomes for rugby as a whole.

Rugby Tournaments 2021

• Touch Singapore: Nationals 4 Touch League 2021
• Your Guide to the Asia Rugby 2021 Competitions.
• HSBC Singapore Rugby Sevens 2021.
• Rugby World Cup 2021.