The former CEO of the Rugby Football Union has submitted plans for a World Cup style competition in Ireland and the UK to ease the game's financial crisis.
Francis Baron, who was the first chief executive of the English RFU following the move to professionalism, has put forward an idea for a tournament to resemble the World Cup in the UK and Ireland in June and July of next year.
The Telegraph report that plans have been sent to World Rugby and the RFU for a 16 team tournament that could help raise between £200 million and £250 million for unions that are facing deep financial losses as a result of the pandemic.
The proposed tournament would involve 31 matches over a period of six weeks, which would see the British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa postponed until 2022.
Baron was behind England's successful bid to host the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
The IRFU Chief Executive Philip Browne has warned of significant financial pain for the union here, with a loss of up to €20 million estimated if the Six Nations cannot be completed and if the autumn internationals do not take place in 2020.
Baron's plan, which is independent, would see matches played at the home grounds of the English, Welsh, Scottish and Irish unions, including the Aviva Stadium.
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