South Africa open to joining Six Nations after 2025 amid calendar overhaul

South Africa have told the southern hemisphere’s governing body they are exploring their option of joining the Six Nations after 2025 as plans for a major overhaul of the global calendar gather pace.

With powerbrokers of the global game due to meet next month to finalise plans for a ground-breaking biennial world competition, it has emerged that South Africa put Sanzaar on notice towards the end of last year.

The Springboks have been increasingly aligning themselves with the northern hemisphere in recent years with the Bulls, Sharks, Stormers and Lions all joining the United Rugby Championship.

On Wednesday Sanzaar revealed how the South Africa union had committed to the Rugby Championship until 2025 – in line with broadcast arrangements. That signals a significant sea change, however, because less than 18 months ago, a similar commitment was made until 2030.

Last month the Six Nations chief executive, Ben Morel, said he was “extremely cautious” about expansion but the financial benefits are obvious for all parties and South Africa are said to be in talks with the private equity firm CVC, which has acquired stakes in the Six Nations, the Premiership and the URC.

“They [South Africa] did put us on notice they were exploring their options – that was well before Christmas,” the Sanzaar chief executive, Brendan Morris, said. “We’ve got a number of international and local broadcast deals that are extended to 2025. There was never any cause for alarm that we were never going to meet those obligations.

“We’re coming out of the worst three years in living memory of financial impact. Everybody has to do their due diligence in exploring what competitions to be involved in, and what provides the best opportunity for the best