The Six Nations could be moved to April under plans by new World Rugby chief Bill Beaumont's to establish a new global season.
Beaumont was elected unopposed to the top position on Wednesday, with Argentina's Agustin Pichot as his No 2.
One of Beaumont's top priorities is to better integrate the northern and southern hemispheres and to do that the former England captain says the Six Nations may have to be shifted.
Beaumont was chairman of Six Nations Rugby Ltd for the past four years, and their chief executive John Feehan said back in January that keeping the tournament in its traditional February-March slot was "non-negotiable".
But Beaumont says there may have to be compromise in the north and south.
"The game has changed undoubtedly, and you have got to keep moving," he told The Times. "I think you have got to be prepared to look at it. That could well be a solution. Everyone has to take a look at it.
"I know John [Feehan] will probably be quite reluctant to do so. It's a question of compromise."
Moving the Six Nations back a month would mean summer tours by the northern nations to the south would be moved back to July instead of June.
The southern hemisphere nations are keen on this so that the tours cause less disruption to the Super Rugby season.