Key Highlights
- England will travel more than 17,500 miles in three weeks to play South Africa, Fiji and Argentina.
- The new Nations Championship is set to take place every two years, excluding World Cup or British & Irish Lions tour years.
- Twickenham will host the finals weekend with six matches spread across Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in November 2026.
- England’s match against South Africa is set for Johannesburg, followed by Fiji at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria, then Argentina in Buenos Aires.
New International Rugby Structure Aims to Enhance Competitions Outside Major Events
The rugby world prepares for a significant shake-up with the confirmation of the Nations Championship fixtures for England and other leading nations. The tournament, scheduled to start next summer in 2026, aims to provide more meaning and jeopardy to Test matches outside major events like World Cups or British & Irish Lions tours.
England’s Challenging Schedule
Steve Borthwick’s England side will embark on a demanding journey covering over 17,500 miles in three weeks. The first match is against South Africa in Johannesburg, followed by Fiji at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria and then Argentina in Buenos Aires.
Tournament Structure
The Nations Championship, to be played every two years, will see 12 teams compete for a league table through seven cross-hemisphere matches each. The top-placed sides from the northern hemisphere will face off against leading rest-of-the-world teams in November at Twickenham.
Financial and Competitive Implications
This new format, which pools television broadcast revenues and sponsorship across the top nations, is expected to generate “tens of millions” in additional revenue. The first edition will feature matches between England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Italy, France, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, and Fiji.
By July 2026, each country will play three Tests: against the All Blacks, Wallabies, or Japan away in the summer, followed by hosting the rest of these teams in November. This structure is designed to provide more meaning to top-end internationals during the July and November windows.
Impact on Traditional Tours
The Nations Championship could spell the end of traditional summer tours every two years. However, there are contradictions as South Africa and New Zealand separately try to rekindle touring rugby through their “Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry” series in 2026.
Future Prospects
The new competition is seen by Tom Harrison, the Six Nations chief executive, as having “the power to redefine the future of rugby.” It’s a significant shift that could balance the fixture list among elite nations and provide more meaningful matches outside major events. The tournament will culminate in a grand final at Twickenham on Sunday, November 29, 2026.
