Rugby Nations Championship launches inaugural 12‑team competition

The new Nations Championship, a 12‑team tournament that replaces the traditional July and November international windows, is set to begin in just over a week. The competition will feature the ten Tier‑One nations from the Six Nations and SANZAAR plus invited sides Japan and Fiji, with a Southern and Northern series leading to a Finals weekend at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham.

Organisers envision the league‑style points system as a way to give the two‑month international window a tangible prize and to grow the event into a regular title, similar to cricket’s Test World Championship. The inaugural edition is scheduled for 2026 and will run alongside the lead‑up to the 2027 Rugby World Cup.