Dead in the water.

The RFU’s proposal, which was drafted by the clubs, to shorten the Six Nations by one week for England and France has been emphatically shot down after the French decided to vote against the proposed plan sent to the RFU.

Wales, Ireland, Scotland and Italy were already in favour of keeping the present format of five rounds played over seven weeks with two rest periods.

The four nations were supported by France at a Six Nations board meeting on Monday to vote on the RFU proposal of losing one bye week, which England lost by five to one, both The Times and The Daily Telegraph reported.

All nations would have had to agree for changes to be made to the current format.