World Rugby CEO Brett Gosper is hopeful that an arrangement to align the northern and southern rugby calendars can be reached in the coming months.
Chairman Bill Beaumont aims to synchronise both hemispheres' schedules, including a suggestion that the Six Nations may have to be staged in April in order to make room.
One of the stumbling blocks is the stance of the English Rugby Union, with chief executive Ian Ritchie not keen on moving either the Six Nations or November Test dates.
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The current agreement over international fixtures expires after the 2019 World Cup and the position of the sport's richest union points to few changes being made to the existing schedule.
However, Gosper has given an update to RTÉ Sport indicating some movement in the discussions.
“[We’re having] some constructive conversations going on and we’re confident that we can get to an outcome,” Gosper told RTÉ Sport's rugby podcast ‘The Breakdown’.
“I can’t give you a deadline on that.
“We’d like to get things done by early next year at least because obviously some broadcast certainties that are needed beyond that in the next cycle but [there are] good constructive conversations happening in the north, in the south, with the clubs, with the unions.
“We’re hopeful we’ll get to a good place.
“There has to be some compromise. Not everyone gets their perfect calendar and that’s just the way it is.
"But there’s some good leadership being provided by president Bill Beaumont as well as [vice-chairman] Gus Pichot and there’s an energy behind getting a result there and hopefully we’ll get one."
Gosper added that the organisation is also examining the residency rule, under which a player can represent another country after living there for three years, as is the case with Ireland players Jared Payne and CJ Stander.
“It’s good to take a look at these things,” said the Australian.
“It’s always a complex subject that one so we’re going to look at it in a holistic way, all elements of it and see what the appetite and desire is, if there is for any change there.”
