2026 Nations Championship rugby tournament kicks off worldwide
World Rugby’s inaugural Nations Championship begins in July 2026, merging the traditional July and November test windows into a single high‑stakes competition. Twelve national teams – the Six Nations (England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, Wales) and the Rugby Championship side (Argentina, Australia, Fiji, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa) – will play three matches in the Southern Series (July) and three in the Northern Series (November). The schedule includes opening fixtures such as New Zealand vs France in Christchurch on 4 July and Italy’s debut against Japan in Tokyo, with the final week of play staged at London’s Twickenham.
The tournament is designed to boost the sport’s global calendar, generate significant revenue for host venues and local businesses, and provide a powerful preparatory platform for the 2027 Rugby World Cup. World Rugby’s new eligibility rules and the condensed schedule are expected to increase player workload and injury risk, prompting clubs and unions to adopt tighter biometric monitoring and contract safeguards.
Several high‑profile players are missing the opening series, including France captain Antoine Dupont (calf injury), England lock Maro Itoje (rest after exceeding match limits), Wales lock Dafydd Jenkins (shoulder surgery), and South Africa’s Sacha Feinberg‑Mngomezulu (ankle injury). Italy, under coach Gonzalo Quesada, will use the competition to gauge progress ahead of the World Cup, fielding a blend of experienced stars and emerging talent.