And then there were seven.

The proposed eight nations championship slated for November and December this year is in jeopardy with reports from Japan suggesting the Brave Blossoms have opted out and will not travel for the tournament over concerns.

The eight-team tournament was expected to fill the void left by the originally slated November series with the usual Six Nations teams competing in an extended championship with Japan and Fiji.

But according to Kyodo News in Japan, the Brave Blossoms, who defeated Ireland and Scotland on the way to reaching the quarter-finals of last year’s Rugby World Cup, will not compete in the proposed tournament.

“Complications caused by the coronavirus pandemic prompted the JRFU to opt out of the European competition, which is planned to run from November to December,” a source close to the union said.

The move will come as a huge blow for Six Nations organisers who have been working hard behind the scenes to get the international calendar back up and running with this new competition.

Georgia could perhaps now be contacted, with the Rugby Europe Championship nation long campaigning to be a part of rugby’s elite following some impressive performances in recent years.