A major priority for the organisation's chairman Bill Beaumont following his election in May 2016, the schedule "sets new standards by prioritising rest periods, promoting equity for the sport’s emerging powers and harmonising the relationship between the international and domestic games", according to the governing body.

France and England are set to tour the Pacific Islands while the United States, Canada and Japan will also welcome tier one nations, which are still to be decided.

Georgia and Romania have also been guaranteed home matches against Six Nations teams each July.

The Six Nations teams will now collectively guarantee a minimum of six matches against tier-two opposition during each set of autumn internationals.

World Rugby's plan confirms a minimum of 110 matches between tier one and tier two nations between 2020 and 2032, which it claims is an increase of 39 per cent.

The schedule aims to "accelerate the competitiveness of international rugby through unprecedented and annual opportunities" for the tier two nations according to World Rugby.

The calendar also retains three existing annual international windows, but the June window will now be replaced by a new July version while the November window is set to move forward one week.

Changing the June window to July will enable the southern hemisphere's Super Rugby season to run uninterrupted.

The July window will take place in the first three weeks of the month, comprising three tests with the exception of the year after the Rugby World Cup when southern hemisphere nations will host two-test series.

Tours to the southern hemisphere immediately after a Rugby World Cup year will be reduced to two matches, in a bid to promote player welfare.

“Agreement on an optimised global calendar that provides certainty and sustainability over the decade beyond Rugby World Cup 2019 represents an historic milestone for the global game," said Beaumont.

“But more than that, this agreement has player welfare and equity at heart, driving certainty and opportunities for emerging rugby powers and laying the foundations for a more compelling and competitive international game, which is great for unions, players and fans.

“This process has been complex and there was no silver bullet.

"Compromise has been achieved by all stakeholders in the spirit of collaboration and I would like to thank my union and professional league colleagues for their full contribution and commitment to reaching an agreement that will ultimately benefit the whole game.”

Discussions are now set to continue among the relevant unions regarding the duration of the Six Nations and the British and Irish Lions tour, while the major domestic leagues will now be able to start planning start dates and schedules.

The full detail of the annual fixtures will be announced in due course by individual unions.