Nations Championship
As sports grow and develop the people at the top of the game are always looking at new ways to generate excitement and flair – there is always something brewing!
This Summer marks the start of something new for rugby, with the launch of the new biennial (every 2 years) Nations Championships, and at a further extension the Nations Cup.
If you don’t live constantly in the rugby sphere you may have some questions about what this, or what there purpose of this new competition is.
If so, then this is the place to be as we break down what to expect this Summer as we step into the next era of international rugby.
What is the Nations Championship?
The Nations Championship is a new international rugby competition designed to deliver more high-quality, competitive fixtures between Rugby World Cups and British & Irish Lions tours. Taking place every two years, the tournament replaces the traditional summer and autumn Test windows with one global competition.
2026 marks the inaugural edition, bringing plenty of excitement and curiosity around how the new format will unfold. Marketed as “North vs South”, the competition features 12 teams split into two pools.
The Northern pool is made up of the six Six Nations teams:
The Southern pool includes the four Rugby Championship nations alongside two invited Tier 2 sides:
Each nation will play the six teams from the opposing pool across two international windows. The summer fixtures will take place from 4th–18th July, while the autumn matches will run from 6th–21st November.
Following the six rounds, the tournament concludes with a Finals Weekend at Allianz Stadium in London. Every team will face the nation that finished in the same position from the opposite pool — meaning 1st vs 1st will decide the Nations Championship title.
What is the Nations Championship?
The Nations Championship is a new international rugby competition designed to deliver more high-quality, competitive fixtures between Rugby World Cups and British & Irish Lions tours. Taking place every two years, the tournament replaces the traditional summer and autumn Test windows with one global competition.
2026 marks the inaugural edition, bringing plenty of excitement and curiosity around how the new format will unfold. Marketed as “North vs South”, the competition features 12 teams split into two pools.
The Northern pool is made up of the six Six Nations teams:
The Southern pool includes the four Rugby Championship nations alongside two invited Tier 2 sides:
Each nation will play the six teams from the opposing pool across two international windows. The summer fixtures will take place from 4th–18th July, while the autumn matches will run from 6th–21st November.
Following the six rounds, the tournament concludes with a Finals Weekend at Allianz Stadium in London. Every team will face the nation that finished in the same position from the opposite pool — meaning 1st vs 1st will decide the Nations Championship title.
Where are the games played?
The summer fixtures will follow a familiar format, with Northern Hemisphere nations travelling south to face their opponents. Fiji are the exception, with their three “home” matches being played in England, Wales, and Scotland.
The autumn window will also retain a traditional feel, as Southern Hemisphere teams travel north for three weeks of international action against the Six Nations sides.
What’s different from before?
Outside of the obvious addition of Finals Weekend, the biggest change comes from the new pool format. Each team will play all six nations from the opposite pool, earning:
- 4 points for a win
- 2 points for a draw
- 0 points for a loss
Teams can also earn bonus points for scoring four or more tries, as well as for losing by eight points or fewer.
As previously mentioned, the team that finishes top of the Northern pool will face the top team from the Southern pool in the final to decide the Nations Championship winners.
Although promotion and relegation between the Nations Championship and the Nations Cup has been discussed, it will not be introduced initially. The structure is expected to be reviewed after the 2028 edition, with 2030 currently viewed as the earliest possible introduction point.
Where are the games played?
The summer fixtures will follow a familiar format, with Northern Hemisphere nations travelling south to face their opponents. Fiji are the exception, with their three “home” matches being played in England, Wales, and Scotland.
The autumn window will also retain a traditional feel, as Southern Hemisphere teams travel north for three weeks of international action against the Six Nations sides.
What’s different from before?
Outside of the obvious addition of Finals Weekend, the biggest change comes from the new pool format. Each team will play all six nations from the opposite pool, earning:
- 4 points for a win
- 2 points for a draw
- 0 points for a loss
Teams can also earn bonus points for scoring four or more tries, as well as for losing by eight points or fewer.
As previously mentioned, the team that finishes top of the Northern pool will face the top team from the Southern pool in the final to decide the Nations Championship winners.
Although promotion and relegation between the Nations Championship and the Nations Cup has been discussed, it will not be introduced initially. The structure is expected to be reviewed after the 2028 edition, with 2030 currently viewed as the earliest possible introduction point.
What is the purpose of the Nations Championship?
The main aim of the Nations Championship is to reduce the number of standalone international friendlies and instead create a meaningful, high-level competition centred around the rivalry between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
At the same time, organisers wanted to ensure the new tournament would not disrupt the existing rugby calendar. Competitions such as the Six Nations, Rugby Championship, The Greatest Rivalry, and Pacific Nations Cup will all continue to take place during Nations Championship years.
What about Tier 2 nations?
In recent years, there has been significant growth among Tier 2 nations, alongside a growing ambition to test themselves against stronger opposition and push the global game forward.
While the new Nations Cup reduces regular fixtures against Tier 1 nations, it creates a valuable platform for emerging rugby nations to compete against each other at a higher level, helping to accelerate development across the international game.
The competition will follow a similar structure to the Nations Championship, featuring 12 teams split into two pools:
Pool A
Canada, Chile, Samoa, Tonga, Uruguay, USA
Pool B
Georgia, Hong Kong China, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Zimbabwe
Matches will be played during the same international Test windows as the Nations Championship. However, unlike the top-tier competition, there will be no Finals Weekend. Instead, each pool winner will be crowned after the final round of fixtures on 21st November.
What is the purpose of the Nations Championship?
The main aim of the Nations Championship is to reduce the number of standalone international friendlies and instead create a meaningful, high-level competition centred around the rivalry between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
At the same time, organisers wanted to ensure the new tournament would not disrupt the existing rugby calendar. Competitions such as the Six Nations, Rugby Championship, The Greatest Rivalry, and Pacific Nations Cup will all continue to take place during Nations Championship years.
What about Tier 2 nations?
In recent years, there has been significant growth among Tier 2 nations, alongside a growing ambition to test themselves against stronger opposition and push the global game forward.
While the new Nations Cup reduces regular fixtures against Tier 1 nations, it creates a valuable platform for emerging rugby nations to compete against each other at a higher level, helping to accelerate development across the international game.
The competition will follow a similar structure to the Nations Championship, featuring 12 teams split into two pools:
Pool A
Canada, Chile, Samoa, Tonga, Uruguay, USA
Pool B
Georgia, Hong Kong China, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Zimbabwe
Matches will be played during the same international Test windows as the Nations Championship. However, unlike the top-tier competition, there will be no Finals Weekend. Instead, each pool winner will be crowned after the final round of fixtures on 21st November.
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