World Rugby has approved a revised international calendar for 2020, with the Rugby Championship to be played in New Zealand from November 7 to December 12.
The COVID-19 pandemic has restricted airline travel and closed borders, causing the cancellation of the big southern hemisphere teams' annual tours of Europe and put rugby on hold around the world.
The southern hemisphere's governing body SANZAAR had confirmed New Zealand as its preferred host for the annual competition after the country virtually eliminated the coronavirus domestically.
But NZ Rugby bosses must now convince their government the tournament can be played inside the current regulations around immigration entry and health regulations.
"Special measures will need to be implemented to deal with any government-required isolation period prior to the start of the competition," says World Rugby.
World Rugby has also approved the remaining rounds of the Six Nations Championship to be played between October 24-31.
England are top of the standings with 13 points, ahead of France on points difference. All teams have one game left to play apart from Ireland and Italy, who have two.
England also topped the women's Six Nations standings before the tournament was suspended, with the unbeaten Red Roses one win away from a second consecutive Grand Slam.
The final rounds of the men's and women's Six Nations will be followed by a rest weekend on November 7 and then four consecutive rounds of international matches.
The governing body added that the rescheduling of domestic, European and international calendars would allow professional clubs to play their southern hemisphere international players when they complete the 2019-20 season.
Yet English Premiership chiefs had expressed concerns last week regarding the decision to stage test matches in November and December.
The new window would leave English top-flight clubs without their overseas players for one week of domestic matches and the opening round of the European Champions Cup as next season's Premiership is slated to start on November 20.
Reuters
