New Nations Championship unveiled: Teams, format, and fixtures confirmed

The landmark joint venture between SANZAAR and Six Nations Rugby was officially launched on Monday, and will see 12 nations battling in a biennial tournament to determine who is the top Test side in the world between Rugby World Cups.

The SANZAAR nations - South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, and Argentina - joined by invitational sides Japan and Fiji, will represent the Southern Hemisphere, facing Six Nations teams England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, and Wales across the July and November international windows.

Following six rounds of fixtures, the tournament will conclude with a historic Finals Weekend at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, in London next November. From 27-29 November, three days of doubleheaders will build to a dramatic climax as the top teams square off to determine the ultimate champion.

For the Springboks, the action begins next year when they host England (4 July), Scotland (11 July), and Wales (18 July) in successive weeks on home soil.

The Boks then head north in November to face Italy (6-8 November), France (13-15 November), and Ireland (21 November) to complete their group fixtures ahead of the Finals Weekend.

The Nations Championship will not take place in 2027 as it's a Rugby World Cup year, but will return in 2028 when the schedule will be reversed, with France, Ireland and Italy coming to South Africa before the Boks face England, Scotland and Wales in the UK.

Venues and kick-off times for the Boks' three home Tests next July will be confirmed by SA Rugby in due course.

Nations Championship format

All 12 nations will compete for points - four for a win, two for a draw, zero for a loss, and bonus points for scoring four or more tries and losing by seven points or fewer - to determine the standings in their respective groups. These points earned during the July and November rounds will ultimately decide the schedule of fixtures for the Finals Weekend.

The Finals Weekend promises to be unlike anything else in the sport, with three consecutive days of elite international double-headers hosted at Twickenham to bring the action to a dramatic conclusion.

The top-ranked team from the Southern Hemisphere group will take on the best side from the Northern Hemisphere to determine the inaugural champion. Adding a plot twist to the Finals Weekend, is that the remaining teams will also be playing to earn points for their group which will contribute towards deciding the dominant hemisphere. This means that every point, match, and result matters, to every team.

What They Said

SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer: "The Nations Championship will transform the existing international windows in July and November, which means every Test will now count for more than just bragging rights and world ranking points.

"This new competition changes the global game as we know it, and from SA Rugby and the Springboks' side, we are very excited about what the future holds.

"Kicking off with Tests against England, Scotland and Wales will provide the Boks with three tough Tests and just the right preparation for Rugby's Greatest Rivalry against the All Blacks, which follows in August.

"Scotland's last visit to South Africa was in 2014, England haven't been here since 2018, and Wales last came to us in 2022, so we can't wait to welcome them back."

Brendan Morris, CEO of SANZAAR: "The establishment of The Nations Championship is an historic and exciting move for rugby that will see the SANZAAR Member Unions, with the addition of Fiji and Japan, take on the best of Europe and the Northern Hemisphere on a biennial basis.

"SANZAAR nations have a proud and successful record at international level. Our aim is to continue this record, and the Nations Championship, along with our rugby calendar for the 2026-2030 period, will provide the perfect pathway for continued success.

"We warmly welcome our Pacific neighours Japan and Fiji into the tournament, as part of our 'team'. The participating teams are excited, the broadcasters are excited, and the fans are excited, and we very much look forward to July 2026 when it all kicks-off."

Tom Harrison, CEO of Six Nations Rugby, said: "The Nations Championship has the power to redefine the future of rugby, and the partnership between Six Nations Rugby and SANZAAR signals a tectonic shift in the sport.

"Rugby's strongest nations have collaborated with a clear vision to grow the game, by challenging traditional ways of operating to create a tournament structure with genuine global relevance, which will unlock the true value of the sport."

"The world's biggest and best championships are defined by intense sporting drama, and the Nations Championship will stand alongside these. The Finals Weekend will add a totally new dimension for fans, and promises to create an incredible spectacle, crown Champions, and act as a catalyst to grow rugby's reach, globally.

"By bringing together the best teams and players in the sport and injecting another layer to the fierce cross hemisphere rivalries, the Nations Championship will take international rugby to new heights."

READ MORE: RG Snyman: 50th Springbok cap against Ireland would be extra 'special'