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Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Matthew Southcombe

Wales drawn to play England and Ireland this autumn as format for new competition 'revealed'

Wales will face England, Ireland and Fiji, as well as Scotland, in a bumper autumn schedule, according to reports in the national press.

And there will be a further play-off match to determine their finishing position in a newly-formed one-off competition later this year.

Current proposals have this year's autumn international window starting on October 24 and ending on December 5, allowing for the 2020 Six Nations to be completed before four rounds of matches.

Wayne Pivac's side are expected to complete their Six Nations campaign against Scotland on October 31, though a warm-up match could still be pencilled in on October 24.

Then, in the eight-team autumn competition, it is being reported that Wales will be in a division with England, Ireland and Fiji. The other group will consist of France, Scotland, Italy and Japan.

Teams are set to play others in their division once before a play-off match against the team of the same ranking in the other division.

Confirmation of the schedule and venues for the matches is expected to come next month.

Wales, however, will not be playing at the Principality Stadium. The Welsh Rugby Union announced last week they did not anticipate hosting matches at the ground until next year's Six Nations as it continues as a field hospital.

If limited crowds are allowed into venues by the autumn, Wales' home matches are likely to take place in London. However, if games are behind closed doors, Pivac's side will use one of the regional rugby venues.

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