The Six Nations have confirmed the Women’s & Under-20’s 2021 Championships will not take place in the regular tournament window of February and March this year.
The Women’s Championship will instead be scheduled in revised windows later this spring or early summer. It comes amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and the current lockdown.
Six Nations Rugby have also confirmed they still plan to stage the men’s Championship as scheduled, starting on February 6.
A further announcement on when the Under-20’s and Women’s tournaments will be held is expected at the end of January.
Ben Morel, CEO of Six Nations Rugby Limited, said: “We are fiercely committed to the promotion and development of rugby at all levels, particularly the women’s game where we see such exciting opportunity for growth.
“This is not a decision we rushed into and we are confident that in looking at a new later window, we will be in a far stronger position to deliver two fantastic tournaments, delivering exciting rugby for fans, and ensuring the safest possible environment in which to stage them for our players.”