Between July and November 2026, 12 rugby nations will compete on the field. Teams, match schedule: here is everything you need to know about the Nations Championship.
We had to find something to have fun between two Six Nations Tournaments, or between the Rugby World Cups. This is why World Rugby created a new competition: the Nations Championship. This championship pits the best teams from the Northern Hemisphere against those from the Southern Hemisphere.
This international tournament should be organized every two years, in even years. It brings together 12 pays participants : England, Scotland, France, Ireland, Italy, Wales, South Africa, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Japan. The first edition of this tournament begins on July 4 and ends… November 29, 2026.
No, rugby lovers are not going to enjoy five months of non-stop competition. A first wave of matches is organized in July, then a second wave arrives in November. There finale will be held on the weekend of November 27 to 29au stade de Twickenham, Ã Londres.
Players from different nations will have to take a little tour of the world during this competition: each participating country hosts at least one of the tournament matches. Tokyo, London, Brisbane, Pretoria, Turin, Córdoba… The players are going to see the country! Each team will face six nations from the opposite hemisphere. With 4 points for a victory, 2 points for a draw, and 0 points for a defeat, the team that wins the most points at the end of the championship will be declared the winner.
North versus South, who will dominate the international rugby scene? To find out, you will have to follow the competition closely: each match can shake up the rankings! In the meantime, here is some practical information to know.Â
The teams in competition
Hémisphère Nord
- AngleterreÂ
- FranceÂ
- Ireland
- Italy
- That’s it
- Wales
Hémisphère Sud
- ArgentineÂ
- Australia
- New Zealand
- South Africa
- JaponÂ
- Fiji
The match schedule
- July 4, 2026: 9:10 a.m. – New Zealand – France
Te Kaha Stadium, Christchurch, Nouvelle-Zélande - July 4, 2026: 10:40 a.m. – Japan – Italy
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Tokyo, Japon  - July 4, 2026: 12:10 p.m. – Australia – Ireland
Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney, Australie  - July 4, 2026: 3:10 p.m. – Fiji – Wales
Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Pays de Galle  - July 4, 2026: 5:40 p.m. – South Africa – England
Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa - July 4, 2026: 9:10 p.m. Argentina – Scotland
Stade Mario-Alberto-Kempes, Córdoba, Argentine Â
 - July 11, 2026: 7:10 a.m. – New Zealand – Italy
Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington, Nouvelle-Zélande  - July 11, 2026: 9:40 a.m. – Australia – France
Lang Park, Brisbane, Australia  - July 11, 2026: 12:10 p.m. – Japan – Ireland
Newcastle International Sports Centre, Newcastle, Australie  - July 11, 2026: 3:10 p.m. – Fiji – England
Everton Stadium, Liverpool, Angleterre  - July 11, 2026: 5:40 p.m. – South Africa – Scotland
Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria, South Africa - July 11, 2026: 9:10 p.m. – Argentina – Wales
Bicentennial Stadium, San Juan, Argentina - July 18, 2026: 9:10 a.m. – New Zealand – Ireland
Eden Park, Auckland, Nouvelle-Zélande  - July 18, 2026: 10:40 a.m. – Japan – France
Stade national, Tokyo, Japon  - July 18, 2026: 12:10 p.m. – Australia – Italy
Perth Oval, Perth, Australie  - July 18, 2026: 3:10 p.m. – Fiji – Scotland
Murrayfield Stadium, Édimbourg, Écosse - July 18, 2026: 5:40 p.m. – South Africa – Wales
Kings Park Stadium, Durban, Afrique du Sud  - July 18, 2026: 9:10 p.m. – Argentina – England
Stade Único Madre de Cities, Santiago del Estero, Argentina  - 6 November 2026: 9:10 PM – Ireland – Argentina
Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland - November 7, 2026: 12:40 p.m. – Italy – South Africa
Juventus Stadium, Turin, Italy - November 7, 2026: 3:10 p.m. – Scotland – New Zealand
Murrayfield Stadium, Édimbourg, Écosse - November 7, 2026: 5:40 p.m. – Wales – Japan
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Pays de Galle  - November 7, 2026: 9.10pm – France – Fidji
Lyon Olympic Park, Décines-Charpieu, France - November 8, 2026: 4:10 p.m. – England – Australia
Stade de Twickenham, Twickenham, Angleterre - November 13, 2026: 9:10 p.m. – France – South Africa
Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France  - November 14, 2026: 12:40 p.m. – Italy – Argentina
Luigi-Ferraris Stadium, Geneva, Italy - November 14, 2026: 3:10 p.m. – Wales – New Zealand
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Pays de Galle - November 14, 2026: 5:40 p.m. – England – Japan
Stade de Twickenham, Twickenham, Angleterre  - 14 November 2026 : 9.10pm – Ireland – Fiji
Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland - November 15, 2026: 4:10 p.m. – Scotland – Australia
Murrayfield Stadium, Édimbourg, Écosse
 - November 21, 2026: 3:10 p.m. – England – New Zealand
Stade de Twickenham, Twickenham, Angleterre  - November 21, 2026: 3:10 p.m. – Scotland – Japan
Murrayfield Stadium, Édimbourg, Écosse - November 21, 2026: 5:40 p.m. – Ireland – South Africa
Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland - November 21, 2026: 5:40 p.m. – Italy – Fiji
Stade Friuli, Udine, Italy - November 21, 2026: 9.10pm – France – Argentina
Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France - November 21, 2026: 9:10 p.m. – Wales – Australia
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Pays de Galle  - November 27, 2026: 11th place match
Stade de Twickenham, Londres  - November 27, 2026: 9th place match
Stade de Twickenham, Londres  - November 28, 2026: match for 7th place
Stade de Twickenham, Londres  - November 28, 2026: match for 5th place
Stade de Twickenham, Londres  - November 29, 2026: 3rd place match
Stade de Twickenham, Londres  - November 29, 2026: Final
Twickenham Stade, London
And in France?
France hosts three matches in France, including two at the Stade de Franceon the edge of Paris. The matches will also be broadcast on television, on chaîne TF1. For the moment, however, we do not know if TF1 will broadcast all the matches of the championship, or only those of France.
No question of missing this new oval meeting! We will be there to encourage our Blues in this unique international competition.
