Rugby's Nations Championship 2026
The Newest Tournament in International Rugby from July and November 2026
Rugby union has just changed with the introduction of The Nations Championship. Twelve of the world's greatest rugby nations go toe to toe.
If you follow international rugby, this is the tournament you need to know about and the one you need tickets for.
What is the Nations Championship?
The Nations Championship is a brand new bi-annual international rugby tournament created jointly by Six Nations Rugby and SANZAAR, the governing body for southern hemisphere rugby. It brings together all six Six Nations teams and all four Rugby Championship sides, plus two invited nations, into a single competitive format for the first time in Rugby's history.
The format is simple. Two groups of six play a full cross-hemisphere schedule across the July and November international windows, earning points that determine their seeding for Finals Weekend. It's four points for a win, two for a draw, with bonus points available for four tries or losing by seven points or fewer.
The 12 Teams Competing in the 2026 Nations Championship
The tournament is split into two conferences. Every match is a cross-hemisphere contest, meaning north always plays south throughout the group stage.
European Conference (Northern Hemisphere)
SANZAAR and Pacific Conference (Southern Hemisphere)
- South Africa
- New Zealand
- Australia
- Argentina
- Japan
- Fiji
Ten major rugby unions have competing in one competitive structure. The inclusion of Japan and Fiji as invitational members is a significant step forward for global rugby, giving both nations guaranteed Test match rugby against Tier 1 opposition built into the calendar.
Finals Weekend: Allianz Stadium, Twickenham from 27 to 29 November 2026
All twelve teams converge on Allianz Stadium in Twickenham for a historic Finals Weekend from Friday 27 to Sunday 29 November 2026.
Six fixtures across three days. London becomes the global capital of rugby for an entire November weekend and demand for tickets is expected to be in high demand.
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