The British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa may be moved from July to October of 2021 as World Rugby examine how to align the Hemispheres.

The Telegraph are reporting that World Rugby have established a working group with a view to examining the feasibility of a new club calendar from January to August, with the Six Nations Championship potentially moving from its traditional February and March space in the schedule.

The coronavirus pandemic has placed the game in a precarious position financially, so all things are on the table, including an assessment of how international rugby's fixtures are in simpatico in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

English Rugby Football Union Chief Executive Bill Sweeney says everything is on the table.

"In terms of the global calendar, you can't approach this topic unless you include every single component in there, so the conversations around the global calendar have included the Lions. They've also included the 2023 World Cup.

"We've had good conversations with the Lions, and if the tour was to move it would move into that autumn window and again, there are pros and cons.

"With regard to the Six Nations, we said from day one that if it works for the best interests of the game, we would be prepared to move it. One of the options on the table has the Six Nations moving by a month."

Rugby has yet to come to a certain position on whether the Six Nations can be completed later this year, and if the autumn fixtures can take place at all.