October 2025 Rugby Round-Up
The Rugbystore round-up of the big news stories from the world of rugby over October.
1. Springboks and All Blacks Announce Historic Test Series
During discussions about future scheduling, it was announced that there will be no Rugby Championship in 2026. Instead, fans will be treated to a historic four-test series between New Zealand and South Africa.
The series will see the All Blacks embark on an eight-match tour to South Africa, featuring four games against established URC sides and four tests against the reigning World Champions. The series will also mark 30 years since New Zealand last toured South Africa, with seven of the eight fixtures set to be played in cities such as Johannesburg and Cape Town. The venue for the final test has yet to be confirmed, though London’s Allianz Stadium and Croke Park in Dublin are reportedly under consideration.
As part of the long-term plans, South Africa are also scheduled to tour New Zealand in 2030, continuing this exciting new chapter in the rivalry between the two rugby giants.
2. Rugby360 Backlash
Having previously announced plans to launch its flagship season in 2026, Rugby360 (R360) has encountered several roadblocks in its efforts to secure marquee players.
The organisation initially stated that it had secured funding for 200 player contracts and promised that all players would remain available for international windows. However, this ambition has met firm resistance from national unions. In a joint statement, England, Ireland, Scotland, France, Italy, New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa declared that any players who joined the new competition would no longer be eligible for international selection.
With the next Rugby World Cup less than two years away, this stance has already proven effective. Australian international Len Ikitau recently admitted that he would be unlikely to join Rugby360 if it meant missing the opportunity to represent his country at a home World Cup.
While the rugby unions have taken a firm position, the National Rugby League (NRL) has gone even further. The governing body announced that any player who defects to Rugby360 will face a 10-year ban, with agents who facilitate such moves facing the same lengthy suspension.
With both league and union authorities taking such strong stances, the organisers of Rugby360 now face a major challenge in overcoming these obstacles before their planned 2026 launch.
3. Brazil given World Cup life line
Only weeks before the start of the Final Qualification Tournament, Brazil have been handed a lifeline in their bid to qualify for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, after replacing their South American rivals Paraguay.
Paraguay had originally secured their place in the November round-robin tournament after defeating Brazil over two legs. However, the Paraguayan Rugby Union later admitted to an administrative error — fielding an ineligible player during both legs of the play-off.
Following Paraguay’s withdrawal, World Rugby acted swiftly, awarding Brazil the vacant spot. The South American side will now join Samoa, Namibia, and Belgium in the tournament, where the four nations will battle for the final place at the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
August Competition Round-Up
Rugby Championship
In the end, South Africa did just enough to get over the line, as their narrow win against Argentina in London was enough to secure back-to-back Rugby Championship titles for the first time in their history.
The All Blacks put up a strong fight, with their 28–14 win over Australia in Perth putting late pressure on the Springboks. However, it ultimately wasn’t enough to claim what would have been their 21st Championship title.
United Rugby Championship
With only five rounds of rugby played so far, the URC table is still taking shape — but that doesn’t mean there haven’t been early surprises. The reigning champions, Leinster, currently sit in 7th place after suffering three defeats, already more than they had during the entire league phase last season. Their opponents in last year’s final, the Bulls, haven’t fared much better, sitting just one place above them on points difference.
At the top end of the table, the DHL Stormers and Munster are setting the pace with perfect records, while the Glasgow Warriors and Cardiff follow closely behind with four wins apiece.
Gallagher Premiership
The Gallagher Premiership has started off with a bang, with no side managing a perfect record through the first five rounds — although the Northampton Saints remain unbeaten thanks to their 33–33 draw with the Exeter Chiefs.
The defending champions and current title favourites, Bath, sit in second place, as last year’s Champions Cup finalists, the Saints, lead the early table. While the competition has been close, two sides have struggled to find form this season, with Gloucester and the Newcastle Red Bulls still winless after five rounds.
Top 14
Having started earlier than the other Northern Hemisphere leagues, the Top 14 is already nearing the halfway mark, with nine of the 26 rounds played.
Stade Toulousain currently sit at the top of the table with six wins, while Section Paloise sit just two points behind in second. Overall, the league is as close as ever, with only five points separating first place from 7th-placed Toulon.
That’s it! That’s our quick round-up for October 2025. Be sure to checkout the rest of the Rugbystore Blog for news, reviews, training tips and much more.