The IRB will host an historic global forum in England on November 27-29 that will include stakeholders from all areas of the game.

The Forum’s objective is to establish a blueprint for the future growth of the game in terms of an annual playing calendar that is relevant, commercially robust and acceptable to all stakeholders.

Attending the forum will be IRB Council members and representatives from IRB Member Unions, Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR), Premier Rugby Limited (PRL), European Rugby Cup (ERC), Celtic League, SANZAR, 6 Nations and Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance (PIRA), as well as players, coaches, managers, IRB management and commercial agents and consultants.

Dr Syd Millar, IRB Chairman, said, “This is an historic gathering of the game’s stakeholders. Never before has there been such a forum involving the professional clubs, the National Unions, players, coaches and administrators from around the world. We have some key objectives for the forum but it will also assist in building constructive relationships and fostering a better understanding between the game’s stakeholders of the unique issues that exist in their respective regions.

“The IRB is committed to finding the best possible rugby season structure and has been working with the National Unions on the issue of an integrated season for over two years. This includes analysis of the existing playing calendar and potential new options for an integrated Rugby season.

“The development of an integrated season is not any easy task when you consider the different requirements of clubs, provinces and National Unions. Add in the fact that we have a Game played across two hemispheres with different playing seasons, the positioning of Rugby World Cup, the need for player rest periods and that we only have 52 weeks in the year, and you have a complex jigsaw puzzle.”

“If there was an easy solution it would have been implemented some time ago. This is not a decision-making forum, however it will hopefully provide a consensus viewpoint for the way forward, one that stakeholders can take back to their various constituents for further review and refinement.”

“I am sure this forum will set us on the right path and lay the foundations for rugby to continue its phenomenal growth of the last 12 years over the next 12 years,” added Dr Millar.