World Rugby has announced a "significant step" towards agreeing to a global rugby calendar following the 2019 World Cup.
Unions and privately-owned clubs in the northern hemisphere have previously spoken out against the implementation of a global rugby calendar with the prospect of changing the times of competitions like the Six Nations, the Aviva Premiership and France's Top 14 their main concerns.
World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont said he was confident that the concerns could be overcome.
"There is no silver bullet," Beaumont said.
"Compromise has and will continue to be achieved by all stakeholders on the road to agreeing an optimised calendar, but I would like to thank my union and professional league colleagues for their full contribution and commitment to a process that will ultimately benefit the whole game."
Additional concerns of a calendar - that would see competitions like Super Rugby and the UK's Aviva Premiership played at the same time of year - also focused around player welfare.
"During a positive, collaborative and highly-productive forum, key principles were agreed that will underpin the development of the calendar which has player welfare and the harmony of the international and club game at its heart."
Events during the year that came under review included the June and November internationals.
New Zealand Rugby has been a big exponent for the introduction of a global rugby season with CEO Steve Tew maintaining that both hemispheres need to be in unison.
"In reality, the north can't do without the south at the international level and we can't do without the north, either."
World Rugby hasn't released any further details on the calendar but more information is likely to be released later in the year.
Newshub.
