Northern Hemisphere vs Southern Hemisphere

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 - Japan and Fiji. 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.

Nations Championship format

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.

What is the Finals Weekend?

The Finals Weekend is a totally new concept for rugby union and the showpiece conclusion to the Nations Championship. Six fixtures, played at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, will be 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. 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.

Support your team

Guarantee your official match ticket with premium hospitality included on the day your team plays in the final-stage matches on either the 27, 28 or 29 November. The date your team will play will be determined closer to the Finals, depending on results.

FAQs

  • The Nations Championship is a new biennial tournament launching in 2026, replacing the traditional Autumn Internationals format. It features the Six Nations teams facing off against the Southern Hemisphere's Rugby Championship teams (plus Japan and Fiji).

  • 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

  • Yes, Six Nations and SANZAAR, the governing bodies for the competition, confirmed that Allianz Stadium will host the 2026 Nations Championship Finals. We are delighted to be bringing more rugby to Allianz Stadium, with teams from all over the world competing in an action-packed finals weekend.

  • The Finals Weekend takes place Friday 27-Sunday 29 November. The Grand Final will take place on Sunday 29 November 2026, at Allianz Stadium.

  • All 12 teams converge on Allianz Stadium for one weekend. Teams play a "final" against their equivalent seed from the other pool (e.g., 1st vs 1st for the title, 2nd vs 2nd, etc.).

  • General admission tickets are on sale now at the links below:

    England Rugby Autumn Pool Matches
    Final Weekend

    Hospitality packages are on sale now at the links below:

    England Rugby Autumn Pool Matches
    Finals Weekend

  • The Nations Championship is a biennial tournament, starting in 2026.  It will not take place in a Rugby World Cup or British & Irish Lions year.

  • Further updates regarding the Nations Championship will follow in due course, including confirmation of the July and November schedule of fixtures, alongside information on how to register interest for tickets.  

    Unions and Federations hosting fixtures in July and November will be responsible for these tickets. Details of Finals Weekend ticketing process will be communicated as soon as possible. 

  • Yes. England will play three home "Pool Matches" at Allianz Stadium in November against Southern Hemisphere opponents, which count towards the Nations Championship table.

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