US EditionAll Blacks to host France, Italy and Ireland as Nations Championship era begins
The Nations Championship replaces traditional tours with competitive July and November fixtures, culminating in a finals weekend where 12 nations compete for the title.
- On Monday, rugby chiefs launched the Nations Championship, a new biennial tournament starting July 2026 with 12 teams and finals at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, London on November 27.
- To give more purpose to the Test schedule, organisers restructured the July and November Test windows to award Nations Championship points, a Six Nations Rugby and SANZAAR partnership organisers called a major shift.
- New Zealand will host France on July 4, Italy on July 11 and Ireland on July 18, with each nation playing six matches and points deciding finals pairings.
- The Rugby Championship will shift to a two-year cycle, while World Rugby announced a Nations Cup next year with reports of possible promotion and relegation.
- The schedule also creates logistical questions as organisers say the Championship will intensify cross-hemisphere rivalries and commercial value, amid speculation Fiji may play on neutral ground.
12 Articles
12 Articles
New Global Rugby Competition Formally Launched
[Image: Wiki Commons] International rugby was given an overhaul this week with the launch of a new global rugby competition that creates a new battle of the hemispheres away from the World Cup. Starting in 2026, the Nations Championship will give a wider context to test matches between teams from the northern and southern hemispheres, setting up a “north vs. south” finals weekend. The finale will be held at Twickenham, the home of English rugby,…
Nations Championship to Launch with British Invasion of South Africa
A seismic shift in international rugby is on the horizon. The Springboks will welcome England, Scotland, and Wales to South Africa in July 2026 as the inaugural Nations Championship kicks off, ushering in a new era of global competition where every Test match carries weight beyond rankings and bragging rights. The Nations Championship, a joint venture between SANZAAR and Six Nations Rugby, will bring together the 12 biggest rugby nations in a …
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