The fate of planned mid-year rugby union internationals, including a homecoming game for 2020 World Cup winners South Africa, will be decided this month, officials in several countries said on Thursday.
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However, indications are that they will be called off.
Discussions on scheduled tours by France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales to the southern hemisphere in July, and England’s trip to Japan at the same time, were held on Wednesday.
This was when World Rugby’s executive committee met by video conference.
But any decision on the fate of the tours was left to later in April, several sources told Reuters.
World Rugby, the sport’s governing body, has not issued any statement on the meeting however.
But its chief executive Brett Gosper had earlier this week said the tours were unlikely to go ahead.
“The problem is that no union wants to make the decision to cancel its tour, not least because there are, among other things, insurance contract implications,” he told the French daily L’Equipe.
“Participants are waiting for government decisions and directives.
“That said, all unions, from the north as well as from the south, know that it is unlikely that these tours will take place.”
The Springboks are due to play against Scotland in Cape Town on July 4 in their first game since November’s World Cup victory.
This will be followed by another test against the Scots one week later, and then a fixture with Georgia.
England and Wales are scheduled to tour Japan, with Wales then going on to face two tests in New Zealand.
Scotland are due to travel to New Zealand after their two tests in South Africa, while Ireland had two internationals in Australia.
Italy were to visit Argentina after their hosts had played against France in two July tests.
Officials said the executive committee had taken note of the financial implications for the host unions and raised possible alternative plans but held off on any firm decisions.
Bernard Laporte, the French Rugby Federation president who sits on the executive, had previously suggested tours scheduled for July could be moved to November.
But this is unlikely given the financial boost that Australia, New Zealand and South Africa also derive from their end of year visits to the northern hemisphere, officials added.
South Africa have already lined up four tests in Europe in November.
The All Blacks will face England at Twickenham on Nov. 7 in a match that is usually a lucrative sell-out.
Australia have laid off staff and cut pay as they warn of an impending financial crisis brought on by the effects of the coronavirus shutdown.
They are scheduled to take on Ireland, France, Italy and England in November.