World Rugby has confirmed that the preparations for the World Rugby Nations Cup are advancing at pace, with 11 of the 12 teams now confirmed for a competition that will kick-off in 2026 and provide important preparation for unions qualified for an expanded Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia.
The final team will be confirmed via the RWC 2027 Final Qualification Tournament, which concludes on 18 November.
A core part of the reimagination of the international calendar, the World Rugby Nations Cup is linked to the top-level Nations Championship.
For their debut in 2026, the Nations Championship will feature all Six Nations Rugby teams representing the northern hemisphere (England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, Wales) and taking on the SANZAAR nations (Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa) plus two invitational teams (Japan and Fiji), competing on behalf of the southern hemisphere.
Mirroring the top division, the World Rugby Nations Cup will be played across the July and November international windows in 2026 and 2028. In 2027 and 2029 a fixture programme will operate between both divisions and respective unions.
Springboks issue statement after big World Rugby announcement
The Springboks will host England, Scotland, and Wales in July 2026 as the new Nations Championship launches, and where every match will count as teams aim to finish the season as the top Test side on the planet.
The Nations Championship – a landmark joint venture between SANZAAR and Six Nations Rugby to create the new biennial tournament – was officially launched on Monday, with the 12 biggest nations in world rugby colliding in a competitive new tournament that will reshape the future of the global game.
Following the six rounds, the Nations Championship will culminate in a first-of-its-kind Finals Weekend, which will be hosted at the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham in London next November.
England (4 July), Scotland (11 July) and Wales (18 July) will head to South Africa for the midyear Tests, while it was also confirmed that the Boks will face Italy (weekend of 6-8 November), France (weekend of 13-15 November) and Ireland (21 November) in Europe next year to complete fixtures against all Six Nations teams.
New concept
The Finals Weekend, scheduled for 27-29 November 2026, will include three days of double headers taking centre stage at the Allianz Stadium in London. A totally new concept for rugby union, the Finals Weekend aims to addd a dramatic climax to the tournament, where every fixture matters to every team.
The top-ranked teams in the Southern and Northern Hemisphere will battle it out to be named the first ever Champion of the new tournament. Adding to the competitive jeopardy of the Finals Weekend, teams will also be competing to earn points for their group to decide the dominant Hemisphere in the sport, that year.
By the conclusion of the Nations Championship Finals Weekend, it’s suggested that “players and fans will know the best nation in the sport, and where the balance of power lies between the two hemispheres, outside a Rugby World Cup”.
The Nations Championship will not take place in 2027 as it’s a Rugby World Cup year, with a full Castle Lager Rugby Championship also on the schedule. In 2028, the Nations Championship schedule will be reversed, with France, Ireland and Italy coming to South Africa, while the Boks will face England, Scotland and Wales in the UK.
