All global rugby nations split into two conferences, a European one and a Rest of the World one, with each conference split into three divisions based on world ranking. All teams in the Division 1 of each conference will play against each other annually for points to win the division, gain promotion or avoid relegation. The same with Division 2 and Division 3. Division 1 in European Conference will be made up of current Six Nations countries with Division 1 from ROW Conference coming from current teams in Rugby Championship (plus two other countries based on world ranking). The top two teams in each conference in each division will then enter a play off, with the winners playing a final to determine the Division winners. This will mean a maximum number of international games of 11 per team per season, which is not far off what Wales (for example) would play currently in Six Nations (5 games) and Autumn Internationals (4 games) plus summer tour. This competition would not be played in World Cup years, and there would be no promotion or relegation in a Lions year.
Have a look at the enclosed video and make up your own mind. I was a sceptic, but having thought about it, am now broadly in favour as it will make all matches meaningful and expose some Tier 2 nations to more Tier 1 rugby. The clubs (especially in England and France) will not like it as players from the nations involved in playoffs will be absent for up to six consecutive weeks in the Autumn, and some players have already expressed concern regards travel required, burnout and injury recovery, and it will obviously favour those nations with greater strength in depth. Home and away advantage will be a major factor in influencing the outcome, especially when Northern Hemisphere teams play their Southern counterparts. And clearly the Six Nations countries and organisers have always resisted relegation so that sacred cow will need to be slaughtered.
https://www.world.rugby/video/403128
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