5 things about the new Autumn Nations Cup
New competition will be fought out across four weekends in eight venues.
The first Autumn Nations Cup competition swings into action on Friday when Ireland host Wales in Dublin.
Here, the PA news agency looks at the eight-team tournament as it prepares to take centre-stage.
What is the Autumn Nations Cup?
The Autumn Nations Cup is a new, potentially one-off, tournament involving eight countries. It has replaced the normal autumn Test match schedule that traditionally sees rugby superpowers like New Zealand, South Africa and Australia travel to the northern hemisphere in November, but this year was scrapped as teams avoided extended travel because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Nations Cup will take place in eight different venues – London, Paris, Edinburgh, Dublin, Llanelli, Florence, Ancona and Vannes – between November 13 and December 6.
What is the tournament’s format?
The competition comprises all of the Guinness Six Nations countries – England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, France and Italy – plus Fiji and Georgia. Japan originally intended to take part, but withdrew because of travel restrictions and were replaced by Georgia. England, Wales, Ireland and Georgia will form one group, with the other comprising Scotland, France, Italy and Fiji, with each team playing three pool matches before the competition concludes on December 5-6 with a final between group winners, plus play-offs for minor placings where countries face a team ranked in the same position in the opposite pool.
Which channels are broadcasting it?
Form guide
With the Covid-delayed 2020 Guinness Six Nations Championship only being completed last month, it is difficult to look beyond newly-crowned champions England and resurgent France contesting the Autumn Nations Cup final. A compromise deal struck between French clubs and the French Rugby Federation, though, after an increase of autumn fixtures mean some Les Bleus players can only feature in one Nations Cup match if they played against Wales and Ireland last month, which could affect title chances. Elsewhere, Scotland appear strong dark horses and Ireland can never be written off, but Wales have it all to do following a dramatic form slump.
Players to watch
