What Is the New Nations Championship
International rugby has a new competition. In 2026, the Nations Championship was launched as a global tournament for the sport’s leading men’s teams, turning the July and November Test windows into one connected competition with a champion crowned at the end of the year.
If you have heard the name but are not sure how it works, this guide explains what the Nations Championship is, why it was created, who plays in it, how it is structured, the second-tier competition that runs alongside it, and what the critics have said.
The Nations Championship in Simple Terms
The Nations Championship is a 12-team men’s international rugby competition run every two years. Instead of playing one-off “friendly” Tests in July and November, the top nations now play matches that count toward a league table, followed by a Finals Weekend that decides every final position.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| First edition | 2026 |
| Frequency | Every two years, in even-numbered years |
| Teams | 12, split into two conferences of six |
| When matches are played | July and November international windows |
| Finish | Finals Weekend, held at Twickenham in 2026 |
| Second tier | World Rugby Nations Cup, with 12 more teams |
Why It Was Created
For decades, the July and November Tests outside the Six Nations and Rugby Championship had no overall prize. Results counted toward world rankings, but there was no single competition linking them together. World Rugby wanted to change that.
The main goals were to:
- Add a competitive edge to mid-year and end-of-year Tests
- Help align the global rugby calendar
- Guarantee more matches between northern and southern hemisphere teams
- Create new commercial and broadcast value for the sport
The competition runs only in even years to avoid clashing with the Rugby World Cup and British and Irish Lions tours, both of which are major events in odd-numbered years.
How It Was Approved
The plan was approved by the World Rugby Council in October 2023. World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont welcomed it as the start of “an exciting new era for our sport commencing in 2026.”
As part of the agreement, the Six Nations kept its traditional February and March window, though it lost one of its rest weeks.
Who Plays in the Nations Championship
The 12 teams are divided into two conferences:
| Northern Conference | Southern Conference |
|---|---|
| England | Argentina |
| France | Australia |
| Ireland | Fiji |
| Italy | Japan |
| Scotland | New Zealand |
| Wales | South Africa |
The Northern conference is made up of the Six Nations teams. The Southern conference includes the four Rugby Championship nations plus Fiji and Japan.
How the Competition Works
The Pool Stage
Each team plays all six teams from the other conference once. Three matches take place in July and three in November, with each team playing three at home and three away. Teams do not play opponents from their own conference.
Points System
- 4 points for a win
- 2 points for a draw
- 1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries
- 1 bonus point for losing by fewer than eight points
Finals Weekend
After six rounds, all 12 teams meet at one venue. Each Northern team plays the Southern team that finished in the same position, so first plays first, second plays second, and so on. The match between the two conference leaders decides the champion. In 2026, Finals Weekend runs from 27 to 29 November at Twickenham in London.
Key Dates in the 2026 Edition
| Period | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Early to mid-July | Rounds 1 to 3, mostly hosted in the Southern Hemisphere |
| 6 to 21 November | Rounds 4 to 6, mostly hosted in Europe |
| 27 to 29 November | Finals Weekend at Twickenham |
After July, South Africa and New Zealand led the Southern conference, while France and Scotland led a tight Northern race.
The World Rugby Nations Cup
Alongside the Nations Championship, World Rugby launched a second competition, the Nations Cup, for 12 more nations, all of which qualified for the 2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup.
- Pool A: Canada, Chile, Samoa, Tonga, Uruguay, and the United States
- Pool B: Georgia, Hong Kong China, Portugal, Romania, Spain, and Zimbabwe
The format is similar, with teams playing the six sides in the other pool across July and November. Unlike the Nations Championship, there is no finals day; the top team in each pool is crowned champion. The first match was played on 4 July 2026, when Uruguay hosted Georgia in Montevideo.
What About Promotion and Relegation?
This is one of the most debated parts of the new system. In the first two editions, 2026 and 2028, there is no promotion or relegation between the Nations Championship and the Nations Cup. World Rugby has said a promotion and relegation mechanism will be examined from the 2030 edition onwards.
That means teams such as Georgia, which have strong results against established nations, will have to wait for a chance to move up.
Criticism of the New Format
Not everyone welcomed the new competition. Common concerns include:
- Ring-fencing: critics argue that smaller nations are locked out of top-level matches for several years
- Player welfare: more high-intensity Tests could add to player workload
- The World Cup: some fear the new tournament could take attention away from the Rugby World Cup
- Logistics: in 2026, Fiji’s home matches were played in Great Britain because their national stadium did not meet requirements, and one Japan home match was moved to Australia
One South American rugby leader called the plan “the death of rugby” at the time of the vote. World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin rejected the ring-fencing argument, pointing to more guaranteed crossover fixtures between tiers in non-World Cup years.
What It Means for Fans
For supporters, the biggest change is that every Test now has something at stake. A July match in Australia or a November Test in Europe can affect a team’s final position and its Finals Weekend opponent. Bonus points add extra drama, as even a losing team can gain from scoring four tries or staying close.
Fans also get a new end-of-year event in Finals Weekend, with six Tests across three days at one venue.
Coverage is widely available. In 2026, broadcasters include Stan Sport in Australia, Sky Sport in New Zealand, ITV in the United Kingdom, and SuperSport in South Africa, with free-to-air options in several European countries.
What It Means for Australia
For the Wallabies, the Nations Championship guarantees regular Tests against all six European sides in each edition. In 2026, Australia hosted Ireland, France, and Italy in July and toured to face England, Scotland, and Wales in November. With the 2027 Rugby World Cup being hosted in Australia, these matches also act as valuable preparation.
Final Thoughts
What is the new Nations Championship? It is rugby’s attempt to give the July and November Tests real meaning, linking 12 top nations in a two-conference league that ends with a Finals Weekend. With a second-tier Nations Cup running alongside it and promotion and relegation to be examined from 2030, the competition could reshape international rugby for years to come.
Jante Smith is a creative and dedicated content writer who loves turning ideas into clear and engaging stories. She writes blog posts and articles that connect with readers. She ensures every piece of content is well-structured and easy to understand. Her writing helps our brand share useful information and build strong relationships with our audience.