World Rugby has been told to come back with a significantly increased broadcast deal if radical plans for a World League are to be considered, it's understood.
Following a meeting of leading figures of the global game in Los Angeles, Six Nations sources say there remains considerable scepticism about the proposal, presented by Agustin Pichot, World Rugby's vice-chairman, to deliver an annual competition to increase the value of test match rugby in the northern and southern hemispheres.
It is understood the Six Nations unions have received assurances the championship would be allowed to remain on terrestrial television in any new deal, given the need to respect the individual tournaments in both hemispheres and broadcasting commitments of the member countries.
The suggestion that relegation would be introduced to the Six Nations has also been regarded as a non-starter by the home unions, despite the inducement that revenues could be increased by up to £10 million ($19.1m) for each union if a global deal can be struck.
The plan, which was first formulated in September, is a response to financial pressures being felt by unions in both hemispheres, but particularly the south, where the commercial value of the summer tours are significantly lower than the autumn series in Europe.