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Georgia will replace Japan in the new eight-team tournament to be held in Ireland and the United Kingdom this November, as organizers confirmed the format and matches that will see Andy Farrell’s team begin the competition on November 13.
After the original November internationals were canceled due to travel restrictions affecting the nations of the southern hemisphere, a “Six Alternative Nations” was devised, with Fiji and Japan added. Japan also had to withdraw due to Covid-19 travel complications, with Georgia intervening.
The competition, titled Fall Nations Cup, will comprise two groups of four. Group A will see Ireland against England, Wales and Georgia, and Group B will be made up of France, Scotland, Italy and Fiji.
Ireland will begin action on November 13 against Wales at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, followed by matches against England and Georgia on the following two weekends.
The opening weekend will also see England against Georgia and Italy against Scotland on Saturday, November 14, while France host Fiji on Sunday.
The competition will conclude on the weekend of December 5-6 with a final round of matches where each team will face the team ranked in their same position in the opposite group.
The matches, which would be played four consecutive weekends, will be screened by RTÉ Sport.
Ireland fixtures
November 13: Ireland v Wales, Aviva Stadium
November 21: England v Ireland, Twickenham
November 29th: Ireland v Georgia, Aviva Stadium
December 5th: Ireland v TBD (Final Weekend), Aviva Stadium
The Wales home games are expected to be held at the London venues as the Principality Stadium is not yet available after being used as a Covid-19 hospital.
Before that, the reorganized matches will be played in the Six Nations, with Ireland taking on Italy and France on October 24 and 31.
Follow the Pro14 final between Leinster and Ulster (7.35pm Saturday) with our live blog on RTÉ Sport Online and the RTÉ News app or listen to the commentary live on RTÉ Radio 1.
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