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The 2027 Six Nations will stick with its new six-week schedule, but England legend Ben Youngs believes organisers should go even further.
The championship introduced a major scheduling change in 2026, cutting one of its traditional two rest weekends.
That format is set to stay for 2027. Teams will play three rounds in a row before taking a weekend off ahead of the final two matches.
But Youngs isn't convinced the competition needs a break at all.
The former England scrum-half, who won a record 127 caps for his country, has reportedly called for all five rounds to be played on consecutive weekends.
He said: "The Six Nations shouldn't drag on for eight weeks. Let's trim it down to five, pack it with action, and give players a breather afterwards," he declared.
"With a tighter schedule, you'd see better ratings and a lot more nail-biting drama."
That would see the entire championship wrapped up in just five weeks, with no rest weekends between matches.
It's a bold suggestion, particularly given the physical demands of international rugby.
But with the Six Nations already moving away from its traditional schedule, Youngs clearly believes there's room to go one step further.
For more than two decades, the championship was played across seven weeks, with two rest weekends separating the five rounds.
That changed in 2026, partly to accommodate the expanded international calendar and the introduction of the Nations Championship.
The new format offers greater continuity, keeping supporters engaged without lengthy gaps between matches.
However, the reduced recovery time has also raised concerns about player welfare.
Former Wales fly-half Dan Biggar previously warned that consecutive Test matches place enormous physical and mental demands on players.
Speaking about the changes, Biggar explained that rest weekends provided valuable recovery time and allowed coaches to work with their squads.
The debate is particularly relevant ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
For now, organisers are sticking with one rest weekend.
The championship begins on Friday, 5 February, when Ireland host England at the Aviva Stadium.
Steve Borthwick's side then face defending champions France at Twickenham on Valentine's Day.
England host Italy in round three before travelling to Cardiff to face Wales.
Their campaign concludes against Scotland on Super Saturday, with the Calcutta Cup up for grabs.
France, meanwhile, will be chasing a third consecutive Six Nations title following their dramatic 2026 triumph.
All kick-off times are UK time (GMT).
Saturday, 13 February
Sunday, 14 February
Saturday, 20 February
Sunday, 21 February
No Six Nations fixtures are scheduled.
Friday, 5 March
Saturday, 6 March
Saturday, 13 March
The full schedule is available through the official Six Nations website.
Youngs' reported suggestion would take the championship into new territory.
Five consecutive weekends would create an uninterrupted run of international rugby, potentially increasing interest throughout February and March.
But it would also leave players with even less recovery time during one of the most physically demanding tournaments in the sport.
With no further changes confirmed, the 2027 Six Nations will retain its six-week schedule.
Whether organisers eventually go further remains to be seen.
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