The Six Nations will use bonus points on a permanent basis, abandoning a planned three-year trial after just 12 months.

Last year was the first time bonus points - awarded for scoring more than four tries or for losing by seven points or fewer - had been used in the tournament’s 125-year history, with the trial supposed to continue for both the 2018 and 2019 Championships.

There were 11 bonus points scored in last season’s Six Nations, although none of them affected the final standings. And John Feehan, the Six Nations chief executive, says the first year’s trial was so successful that bonus points have been adopted permanently.

“We are going to retain bonus points for the foreseeable future,” said Feehan. “We have reviewed it, considered it and decided to keep them. We said originally we would trial it for three years. We are one year in and have pretty much already made that decision.

“We believe on balance it worked quite well. I wouldn’t say it was fundamental but on balance we feel it worked. If nothing else it is a change in mindset and I feel that is the positive out of it.”