Major updates in athletics and international rugby championships

World Athletics has announced the inaugural Ultimate Championship, scheduled to take place in Budapest from September 11 to 13, 2026. This new event features a record-breaking prize pool of $10 million, with $150,000 awarded to each champion. Unlike traditional championships, entry is based on invitations rather than minimum qualifying marks. Guaranteed spots are reserved for the 2024 Paris Olympic champions, the 2025 Tokyo World champions, and the 2026 Diamond League winners, with remaining slots filled via world rankings. The program includes 28 selected events, though the exclusion of certain distance races like the 10,000 meters has drawn criticism.

In international rugby, the Nations Championship is progressing toward its final stage. Six championship finals will be held at Twickenham Stadium in November, spread across three days. The tournament, organized by Six Nations Rugby and SANZAAR, features 12 teams divided into two groups of six. Following the July window, South Africa and New Zealand remain undefeated, while the Northern Hemisphere standings show France leading the table. The November matches will determine the final rankings based on results from both hemispheres.