RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney has confirmed that a bumper, home-and-away Six Nations schedule is being discussed as a possible contingency in case regular autumn internationals cannot be played later this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Sweeney, who was speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, suggested that one round could be played between October and November 2020 with the next in its regular slot between February and March of 2021.

Another possible route in a fluid situation is for England’s two-Test tour of Japan in July to be pushed back to October with autumn internationals against New Zealand, Argentina, Tonga and Australia to follow in November.

On Thursday, appearing on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, Eddie Jones had said that there was also hope for England to complete their 2020 Six Nations with a game in Italy in October.

Sweeney revealed that he has been in contact with England’s autumn opponents “two or three times a week” and remains under the assumption that those matches will go ahead.