These are busy times in international rugby union, a fast-moving world spinning ever more quickly on its axis. In the next few weeks, it is expected that there will be long overdue confirmation of key information about the new Nations Championship due to launch next year, and of the finer details of New Zealand’s tour of South Africa that will restructure the southern hemisphere winter in 2026 and beyond. In the background, rebel league R360 remains on manoeuvres having secured funding that suggests it will get off the ground – even if some real challenges remain before it is fully realised.
London has taken on a certain centrality within the chaotic, clustered landscape. Not only is the city expected to be confirmed as the host of the inaugural Nations Championship finals next November, but most of the sport’s movers and shakers were in town last weekend, too. Their presence, in part, was expected with an era-defining Women’s Rugby World Cup final at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, but also for a series of World Rugby meetings that will shape the future of the game. New player load guidelines have been introduced, the draw details for the next men’s World Cup have been confirmed and grand plans to crack the United States have been officially backed. There is plenty happening.
