Get ready for a thrilling clash as England Rugby welcomes Japan back to Allianz Stadium on Saturday 14 November. The last time these two sides met, England stormed to a commanding 59-14 win in 2024. With four home victories already under their belt, England will be looking to extend their winning streak, while Japan arrives hungry for redemption. Don’t miss this epic showdown at England Rugby’s HQ.
Experience England v Japan at Allianz Stadium in superb style. Enjoy world‑class international rugby paired with premium seating, exceptional food and drink, and refined hospitality throughout the day. From arrival to final whistle, our hospitality packages offer the perfect way to entertain clients, celebrate with friends, or treat yourself to an elevated matchday experience.
The Nations Championship is the new biennial international rugby tournament created by Six Nations Rugby and SANZAAR and featuring all 10 of the associated unions and federations, plus two invitational teams. The tournament will take place every two years, outside of Rugby World Cup and British & Irish Lions Tour year's, enhancing the existing July and November international windows within the rugby calendar.
By enhancing these windows, Six Nations Rugby and SANZAAR are creating a tournament format that carries competitive jeopardy, with points, rankings and silverware on offer. The tournament signals the first time in the sport's history that the biggest nations in rugby have come together to create a cohesive and competitive tournament format and will stand as the biggest evolution in the game, since it turned professional in 1995.
The Nations Championship will see each of the Six Nations teams forming a ‘Europe’ group, and the SANZAAR nations; Australia, Argentina, New Zealand, and South Africa forming a ‘Rest of The World’ group, that is completed by invitational sides, Japan and Fiji. In July, Europe travel to play three fixtures – each team playing a different opponent in each fixture. In November, the ‘Rest of The World’ group of teams travel north to take on the Six Nations teams. Over the course of the two legs, a team will play each team from their opposing group. Points are earned in each fixture that inform table standings per group, which then dictate opponents for the Finals Weekend set of fixtures.
The Finals Weekend is a totally new concept for rugby union and the showpiece conclusion to the Nations Championship. Six fixtures, dictated by where teams rank within their respective group – i.e. 1st ranked ‘Europe’ team vs 1st ranked ‘Rest of The World’ team. The winner of 1st vs 1st will decide the overall winner of the tournament and the best international rugby nations for that year. Likened to the Superbowl of rugby, the Nations Championship Finals Weekend will offer global fans a unique experience with the best players and teams in international rugby on show for a festival finale to the tournament.
There will be Summer and Autumn fixtures ahead of the Finals, which will be seen as the 'pool matches' which count towards the Nations Championship rankings. Rounds 4-6, replace the Autumn Nations Series and will continue to take place at Allianz Stadium in November.
The pool matches taking place at Allianz Stadium in the Autumn include:
England v Australia - Sunday 8 November
England v Japan - Saturday 14 November
England v New Zealand - Saturday 21 November
