Men’s international rugby will get a new look with the launch of the Nations Championship reshaping the July and November Test windows.
The new competition pits the Six Nations sides against the four Rugby Championship competitors, plus Japan and Fiji, across six matches split evenly between the two months.
The results of those games will determine each of the 12 teams’ seedings for the finals weekend at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium, with six matches contested over two days and both team and hemisphere silverware up for grabs.
Each entrant will be matched against the equivalent qualifier from the other pool to decide overall placings at the conclusion of a busy year of international action.
Here’s the full competition schedule, and how it will all work:
What is the Nations Championship?
Announced during the 2023 Rugby World Cup, the new competition will be held every other year and replaces the traditional summer tours and Autumn Nations Series. It is designed to add context to the international calendar, with Fiji and Japan invited to join the Six Nations and Rugby Championship sides to form a top 12. Promotion and relegation is planned for the future with the second-tier Nations Cup, though will not take place in 2026.
The entrants are:
Northern Hemisphere: France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, England, Wales.
Southern Hemisphere: South Africa, New Zealand, Argentina, Australia, Fiji, Japan.
What about the finals weekend?
The first finals weekend will be held at Twickenham on the last weekend (27 to 29) of November. Three days of double-headers will be held at the ground, with the first-placed finisher of the Six Nations sides meeting whoever tops the other pool, and so on and so forth down the rankings.
The winner of that marquee match will lift the first Nations Championship trophy, while whichever hemisphere – a term used loosely with Japan included in the “southern” section and Fiji hosting their games in the United Kingdom – wins more final matches will also be crowned. The 1st vs 1st match is worth two points, with all other matches in the finals weekend worth one.
How can I watch it?
Viewers in the United Kingdom will be able to watch every game on ITV after the free-to-air broadcaster struck a deal to show the competition.
Fixtures:
Southern Hemisphere Series (July)
Round One – Saturday 4 July
Japan vs Italy (kick off TBC, Tokyo)
New Zealand vs France (8.10am BST, Christchurch)
Australia vs Ireland (10.45am BST, Sydney)
Fiji vs Wales (2.10pm BST, Cardiff)
South Africa vs England (4.40pm BST, Johannesburg)
Argentina vs Scotland (8pm BST, Cordoba)
Round Two – Saturday 11 July
Japan vs Ireland (kick off TBC, location TBC but likely Gold Coast, Australia)
New Zealand vs Italy (8.10am BST, Wellington)
Australia vs France (10.45am BST, Brisbane)
Fiji vs England (2.10pm BST, Liverpool)
South Africa vs Scotland (4.40pm BST, Pretoria)
Argentina vs Wales (8pm BST, San Juan)
Round Three – Saturday 18 July
Japan vs Italy (kick off TBC, Tokyo)
New Zealand vs Ireland (8.10am BST, Auckland)
Australia vs Italy (10.45am BST, Perth)
Fiji vs Scotland (2.10pm BST, Edinburgh)
South Africa vs Wales (4.40pm BST, Durban)
Argentina vs England (8pm BST, Santiago del Estero)
Northern Hemisphere Series (November)
Round Four – 6/7/8 November
Friday 6 November
Ireland vs Argentina (8.10pm GMT, Dublin)
Saturday 7 November
Italy vs South Africa (TBC, TBC)
Scotland vs New Zealand (2.10pm GMT, Edinburgh)
Time of France vs Fiji (location TBC) and Wales vs Japan (in Cardiff) TBC
Sunday 8 November
England vs Australia (3.10pm GMT, Twickenham)
Round Five - 13/14/15 November
Friday 13 November
France vs South Africa (8.10pm GMT, Paris)
Saturday 14 November
Italy vs Argentina (TBC, TBC)
Wales vs New Zealand (TBC, Cardiff)
Ireland vs Fiji (TBC, Dublin)
England vs Japan (4.40pm GMT, Twickenham)
Sunday 15 November
Scotland vs Australia (3.10pm GMT, Edinburgh)
Round Six – 21 November
France vs Argentina (TBC, Paris)
Ireland vs South Africa (TBC, Dublin)
Italy vs Fiji (TBC, TBC)
Scotland vs Japan (2.10pm GMT, Edinburgh)
Wales vs Australia (TBC, TBC)
England vs New Zealand (2.10pm GMT, Twickenham)
Finals weekend (27/28/29 November) - Allianz Stadium, Twickenham
Friday 27 November
Eleventh place final (4.40pm GMT): Northern 6 vs Southern 6
Fifth place final (8.10pm GMT): Northern 3 vs Southern 3
Saturday 28 November
Ninth place final (1.10pm GMT): Northern 5 vs Southern 5
Third place final (4.40pm GMT): Northern 2 vs Southern 2
Sunday 29 November
Seventh place final (1.10pm GMT): Northern 4 vs Southern 4
Nations Championship final (4.40pm GMT): Northern 1 vs Southern 1
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