Nations Championship 2026: A New Era for International Rugby
Men's international rugby is set for a major transformation with the launch of the Nations Championship in 2026. This groundbreaking competition will reshape the traditional July and November Test windows, introducing a structured format that pits the Six Nations sides against the Rugby Championship teams, plus Japan and Fiji.
What is the Nations Championship?
Announced during the 2023 Rugby World Cup, the Nations Championship will be held every other year, replacing the summer tours and Autumn Nations Series. Designed to add context to the international calendar, it features 12 top-tier nations: from the Northern Hemisphere, France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, England, and Wales; and from the Southern Hemisphere, South Africa, New Zealand, Argentina, Australia, Fiji, and Japan. Promotion and relegation are planned for future editions via the Nations Cup, but will not apply in 2026.
Competition Format and Finals Weekend
Each team will play six matches, evenly split between July and November, with results determining seedings for the finals weekend at Twickenham's Allianz Stadium from 27 to 29 November. The finals will feature six matches over three days, where teams from each pool face their equivalent qualifiers. The marquee match between the top-ranked Northern and Southern Hemisphere teams will decide the Nations Championship trophy winner, with additional points awarded: two points for the 1st vs 1st match and one point for all others. The hemisphere with more wins in the finals will also be crowned champion.
How to Watch in the UK
Viewers in the United Kingdom can catch every game on ITV, thanks to a deal secured by the free-to-air broadcaster to showcase the competition.
Full Fixtures Schedule
Southern Hemisphere Series (July)
- Round One – Saturday 4 July: Japan vs Italy (Tokyo), New Zealand vs France (Christchurch), Australia vs Ireland (Sydney), Fiji vs Wales (Cardiff), South Africa vs England (Johannesburg), Argentina vs Scotland (Cordoba).
- Round Two – Saturday 11 July: Japan vs Ireland (likely Gold Coast, Australia), New Zealand vs Italy (Wellington), Australia vs France (Brisbane), Fiji vs England (Liverpool), South Africa vs Scotland (Pretoria), Argentina vs Wales (San Juan).
- Round Three – Saturday 18 July: Japan vs Italy (Tokyo), New Zealand vs Ireland (Auckland), Australia vs Italy (Perth), Fiji vs Scotland (Edinburgh), South Africa vs Wales (Durban), Argentina vs England (Santiago del Estero).
Northern Hemisphere Series (November)
- Round Four – 6/7/8 November: Ireland vs Argentina (Dublin), Italy vs South Africa, Scotland vs New Zealand (Edinburgh), France vs Fiji, Wales vs Japan (Cardiff), England vs Australia (Twickenham).
- Round Five – 13/14/15 November: France vs South Africa (Paris), Italy vs Argentina, Wales vs New Zealand (Cardiff), Ireland vs Fiji (Dublin), England vs Japan (Twickenham), Scotland vs Australia (Edinburgh).
- Round Six – 21 November: France vs Argentina (Paris), Ireland vs South Africa (Dublin), Italy vs Fiji, Scotland vs Japan (Edinburgh), Wales vs Australia, England vs New Zealand (Twickenham).
Finals Weekend – 27/28/29 November at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham
- Friday 27 November: Eleventh place final (Northern 6 vs Southern 6), Fifth place final (Northern 3 vs Southern 3).
- Saturday 28 November: Ninth place final (Northern 5 vs Southern 5), Third place final (Northern 2 vs Southern 2).
- Sunday 29 November: Seventh place final (Northern 4 vs Southern 4), Nations Championship final (Northern 1 vs Southern 1).
