2026 Nations Championship Southern Hemisphere Series
International rugby union tournament
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The 2026 Nations Championship Southern Hemisphere Series was the first phase of matches (rounds 1–3) of the inaugural edition of the Nations Championship, a biennial international men's rugby union competition between the Six Nations sides, SANZAAR, Fiji and Japan.[1][2]

The Southern Hemisphere Series took place between 4 July and 18 July, during the July International window. The matches replaced the traditional test series' between the travelling Six Nations sides to the SANZAAR nations and surrounding Tier 2 nations in the Pacific Islands, North America and Japan.
Championship division: Tables
The below shows the tables for the two conferences for the Southern Hemisphere Series.
Northern Hemisphere
Southern Hemisphere
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 130 | 49 | +81 | 20 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 15 | |
| 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 121 | 70 | +51 | 18 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 15 | |
| 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 114 | 85 | +29 | 18 | 13 | 3 | 1 | 8 | |
| 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 97 | 99 | −2 | 13 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 7 | |
| 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 62 | 88 | −26 | 7 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |
| 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 49 | 145 | −96 | 7 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Fixtures
Southern Hemisphere teams, apart from Fiji, all hosted their matches.[1][2] All three of Fiji's "home" matches are played in Great Britain.[2] Japan only hosted two of their three matches, with their Round 2 match against Ireland played in Australia.[3]
Round 1
| 4 July 2026 19:10 NZST (UTC+12) |
| (1 BP) New Zealand | 34–32 | |
| Try: Jordan (2) 8' m, 71' m Lakai 20' c Roigard (2) 40' c, 50' c Con: Love (3/4) 21', 41', 51' Pen: Love (1/1) 66' | Report | Try: Penaud 2' c Hastoy 47' c Attissogbe 59' m Jalibert 78' c Con: Lucu (2/3) 3', 48' Hastoy (1/1) 78' Pen: Lucu (2/2) 15', 30' |
| Te Kaha, Christchurch Attendance: 29,152 Referee: Luke Pearce (England) |
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Player of the Match:
Assistant referees:
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Notes:
- Fehi Fineanganofo, Jamie Hannah, Xavier Numia (all New Zealand), Barnabé Massa and Tom Staniforth (both France) made their international debuts.
- New Zealand retained the Dave Gallaher Trophy for a record 14th time.
| 4 July 2026 17:40 JST (UTC+9) |
| Japan | 27–10 | |
| Try: Dearns 10' c Matsunaga 16' c Gunter 46' c Con: Matsunaga (3/3) 11', 16', 47' Pen: Matsunaga (2/2) 24', 66' | Report | Try: Brex 4' c Con: Garbisi (1/1) 5' Pen: Garbisi (1/1) 43' |
| Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Tokyo[5] Attendance: 21,329 Referee: Nic Berry (Australia) |
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Player of the Match:
Assistant referees:
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Notes:
- Ryūnosuke Itō, Itsuki Kamimura, Sojiro Otsuka, Michael Stolberg (all Japan), Malik Faissal and Alessandro Ortombina (both Italy) made their international debuts.
- This was Japan's largest win (by margin) over Italy and any tier-one team, equaling their previous best of 34–17 against Italy in 2018.[7]
| 4 July 2026 20:10 AEST (UTC+10) |
| (2 BP) Australia | 31–33 | |
| Try: Pietsch 2' m Campbell 13' m Canham 23' c Lonergan 26' c McDermott 52' c Con: Gordon (3/5) 24', 27', 53' | Report | Try: C. Prendergast 9' c van der Flier 18' m Gibson-Park 41' c Keenan 46' c Clarkson 76' c Con: S. Prendergast (4/5) 10', 42', 47', 77' |
| Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 41,971 Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand) |
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Player of the Match:
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Notes:
- Lachlan Shaw (Australia) made his international debut.
- Ireland retained the Lansdowne Cup and surpassed Australia for the most trophy wins (nine), and extended their record win-streak over Australia from five to six.[9][10]
- Ireland's 33 points was the most they had scored against Australia away from home, surpassing the 27 they scored on their 1979 Summer tour.
| 4 July 2026 14:10 BST (UTC+1) |
| Fiji | 24–39 | |
| Try: Sowakula 2' c Canakaivata 49' c Ravutaumada 53' c Con: Armstrong-Ravula (3/3) 3', 50', 54' Pen: Armstrong-Ravula (1/1) 41' | Report | Try: Morgan (2) 10' m, 28' m Carré 43' c Adams 45' m Elias 66' c James 79' c Con: Edwards (1/4) 44' Costelow (2/2) 67', 80' Pen: Edwards (1/1) 52' |
| Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff (Wales)[11] Attendance: 16,465 Referee: Eoghan Cross (Ireland) |
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Player of the Match:
Assistant referees:
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Notes:
- Ben Warren (Wales) made his international debut.
| 4 July 2026 17:40 SAST (UTC+2) |
| (1 BP) South Africa | 45–21 | |
| Try: T. du Toit 2' m Kolbe 5' c Arendse 11' m Williams 44' c Kriel 56' c Marx 73' c Dixon 78' c Con: Kolbe (5/7) 6', 45', 57', 73', 79' | Report | Try: Genge 35' c Martin 40+1' c Coles 67' c Con: F. Smith (3/3) 35', 40+1, 68' |
| Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg Attendance: 52,790 Referee: James Doleman (New Zealand) |
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Player of the Match:
Assistant referees:
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Notes:
- Paul de Villiers (South Africa) made his international debut.
- Cheslin Kolbe and Damian Willemse (both South Africa) earned their 50th test caps.
| 4 July 2026 16:10 ART (UTC-03) |
| (1 BP) Argentina | 38–47 | |
| Try: Oviedo 6' c Isgró 42' c Rapetti 65' c Cinti 76' c Moyano 78' c Con: Albornoz (5/5) 7', 42', 65', 76', 78' Pen: Albornoz (1/1) 33' | Report | Try: Tuipulotu 17' c Schoeman 22' m Hutchinson 35' c Brown 51' c Cummings 55' c Hiddleston 68' c Rowe 73' c Con: Burke (3/3) 18', 69', 73' Jordan (3/4) 37', 52', 56' |
| Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes, Cordoba Attendance: 34,560 Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia) |
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Player of the Match:
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Notes:
- Gregor Hiddleston (Scotland) made his international debut.
- Matías Alemanno became the fifth Argentinean player to play 100 test caps.
- Scotland's 47 points was the most they had scored in Argentina, surpassing the 44 they scored against Argentina on their 2018 Autumn tour.[15]
Round 2
| 11 July 2026 17:10 NZST (UTC+12) |
| (1 BP) New Zealand | 47–17 | |
| Try: Darry 7' c Jordan (3) 29' c, 50' c, 53' c Roigard 40+1' c de Groot 47' m Vaa'i 80' c Con: Love (6/7) 8', 30', 40+2', 51', 53', 80+1' | Report | Try: Menoncello 2' c Marin 56' c Con: Allan (1/1) 3' P. Garbisi (1/1) 57' Pen: Allan (1/1) 17' |
| Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington Attendance: 33,087 Referee: Luc Ramos (France) |
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Player of the Match:
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Notes:
- Josh Moorby, Anton Segner (both New Zealand) and Giulio Marini (Italy) made their international debuts.
- Tyrel Lomax (New Zealand) earned this 50th test cap.[16]
- Will Jordan scored his 50th test try, surpassing Doug Howlett's 49 tries to become the All Blacks' top try scorer.[17]
- This was the most points Italy has scored against New Zealand in New Zealand, surpassing the 10 points scored in 2002.
| 11 July 2026 17:40 AEST (UTC+10) |
| (1 BP) Australia | 26–42 | |
| Try: Paenga-Amosa 9' c McReight (2) 26' c, 33' c Williams 76' m Con: Lonergan (3/3) 10', 27', 34' | Report | Try: Meafou 2' c Grandidier-Nkanang (2) 17' m, 49' m Ntamack 52' c Verhaeghe 56' c Attissogbe 72' m Con: Lucu (3/5) 3', 53', 57' Pen: Lucu (2/2) 45', 62' |
| Lang Park, Brisbane Attendance: 52,121 Referee: Karl Dickson (England) |
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Player of the Match:
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Notes:
- Declan Meredith (Australia), Moses Alo-Emile and Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang (both France) made their international debuts.
- This was France's largest win against Australia in Australia (16 points), surpassing the previous nine-point margin set in 1990.[18]
- This was the most points France has scored against Australia in Australia, surpassing the 31 points scored in 2005.[18]
- France retained the Trophée des Bicentenaires for a record fourth consecutive time,[19] and achieved their first win at Lang Park.[18]
| 11 July 2026 20:10 AEST (UTC+10) |
| Japan | 20–36 | |
| Try: Main 3' c Era 58' c Con: Matsunaga (2/2) 4', 59' Pen: Matsunaga (2/2) 17', 27' | Report | Try: Timoney 8' c O'Toole 20' m Henshaw 34' c Jansen 50' c Stewart 79' c Con: Frawley (3/4) 9', 34', 50' Byrne (1/1) 80' Pen: Byrne (1/1) 71' |
| Newcastle International Sports Centre, Newcastle[20] Attendance: 11,021 Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy) |
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Player of the Match:
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Notes:
- Billy Bohan, Sean Jansen, Sam Illo and Bryn Ward (all Ireland) made their international debuts.
- Rónan Kelleher (Ireland) earned his 50th test cap.[21]
| 11 July 2026 14:10 BST (UTC+1) |
| Fiji | 8–73 | |
| Try: Ikanivere 47' m Pen: Muntz (1/1) 12' | Report | Try: M. Smith 5' c George 14' c Pepper 27' c Janse van Rensburg 34' c Atkinson 37' c Feyi-Waboso 53' c Pollock (3) 54' m, 67' c, 79' c Slade 59' c Caluori 64' m Con: F. Smith (9/11) 5', 15', 28', 35', 38', 54', 60', 68', 80' |
| Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool (England)[22] Attendance: 50,209[23] Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland) |
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Player of the Match:
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Notes:
- Noah Caluori, George Kloska, and Benhard Janse van Rensburg (all England) made their international debuts.
- The red card issued to Simione Kuruvoli was a permanent red card and could not be replaced after 20 minutes.
- This was England's largest win against Fiji by margin, and largest by score, surpassing their previous record (58–15) set in 2016.
| 11 July 2026 17:40 SAST (UTC+2) |
| (1 BP) South Africa | 42–28 | |
| Try: Papier 16' c Roos 18' c E. Louw 57' c Willemse 59' c Porthen 65' c Kriel 77' c Con: Pollard (5/5) 17', 19', 58', 60', 66' Horn (1/1) 77' | Report | Try: M. Fagerson 33' c Rowe 39' c Bayliss 67' c White 69' c Con: Russell (4/4) 34', 40', 67', 70' |
| Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria Attendance: 45,053 Referee: Pierre Brousset (France) |
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Player of the Match:
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Notes:
- Rory Sutherland (Scotland) earned his 50th test cap.
- This was Rassie Erasmus' 55th test match in charge of South Africa, a new record for a Springbok coach.[25]
| 11 July 2026 16:10 ART (UTC-03) |
| Argentina | 35–21 | |
| Try: Oviedo (2) 5' c, 47' c Piccardo 14' c Kremer 39' c S. Carreras 38' c Con: Albornoz (5/5) 6', 15', 35', 39', 48' | Report | Try: Lake 3' c Carré 23' c Warren 66' c Con: Costelow (3/3) 4', 23', 67' |
| Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario, San Juan Attendance: 16,000 Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand) |
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Player of the Match:
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Notes:
- Guido Petti became the sixth Argentinean player to play 100 test caps.
- Kane James (Wales) made his international debut.
- Ryan Elias (Wales) earned this 50th test cap.
- With this result, this was the first time Argentina has won three consecutive times against Wales.
Round 3
| 18 July 2026 19:10 NZST (UTC+12) |
| (1 BP) New Zealand | 40–21 | |
| Try: Tuipulotu 15' c Savea 22' c Jordan 35' c Aumua 39' c McKenzie 56' c Lienert-Brown 79' m Con: Love (5/6) 15', 23', 36', 40', 57' | Report | Try: Conan 33' c J. McCarthy 45' c Keenan 63' c Con: Prendergast (3/3) 34', 45', 63' |
| Eden Park, Auckland Attendance: 48,153 Referee: Nic Berry (Australia) |
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Player of the Match:
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| 18 July 2026 17:40 JST (UTC+9) |
| Japan | 15–42 | |
| Try: Ishida 15' m Otsuka 36' c Con: Matsunaga (1/2) 36' Pen: Matsunaga (1/1) 9' | Report | Try: Lamothe (2) 2' c, 51' c Jalibert (2) 19' c, 43' c Roumat 23' c Lucu 30' c Con: Lucu (5/5) 3', 20', 24', 31', 52' Ntamack (1/1) 44' |
| Japan National Stadium, Tokyo[5] Attendance: 52,632 Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand) |
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Player of the Match:
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Notes:
- Esei Ha'angana, Izi Sword, Shunsuke Uenobo (all Japan) and Paul Graou (France) made their international debuts.
| 18 July 2026 18:10 AWST (UTC+8) |
| (1 BP) Australia | 57–10 | |
| Try: Canham (3) 4' m, 27' m, 52' c Wright 9' c Paenga-Amosa 12' c Bell 31' c Ikitau 40+1' c Pollard 64' m Donaldson 80' c Con: Lonergan (5/7) 10', 13', 32', 40+1', 53' Donaldson (1/2) 80+1' | Report | Try: Lamaro 20' m Ioane 41' m |
| Perth Rectangular Stadium, Perth Attendance: 19,268 Referee: Christophe Ridley (England) |
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Player of the Match:
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Notes:
- The attendance of 19,268 was a record attendance for an Australian Test match at the venue.[28]
| 18 July 2026 14:10 BST (UTC+1) |
| Fiji | 17–33 | |
| Try: Ikanivere 16' m Ravutaumada 19' m Canakaivata 34' m Con: Armstrong-Ravula (1/3) 35' | Report | Try: Gray 14' c Schoeman 54' c Dobie (2) 61' c, 76' m Cummings 74' m Con: Horne (1/1) 14' Burke (3/4) 55', 61', 74' |
| Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh (Scotland) Attendance: 55,125 Referee: Matthew Carley (England) |
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Player of the Match:
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Notes:
- Virimi Vakatawa (Fiji) and Seb Stephen (Scotland) made their international debuts.
| 18 July 2026 17:40 SAST (UTC+2) |
| (1 BP) South Africa | 43–0 | |
| Try: J. Wiese 5' c Reinach 14' c Kriel 40+1' m Williams 41' c Jantjies 63' m Arendse 69' m de Villiers 80' c Con: Moyo (3/4) 6', 15', 42' Libbok (1/3) 80' | Report |
| Kings Park Stadium, Durban Attendance: 40,299 Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland) |
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Player of the Match:
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Notes:
- Vusi Moyo, Carlü Sadie, Ruben van Heerden and Jaco Williams (all South Africa) made their international debuts.
| 18 July 2026 16:10 ART (UTC-03) |
| (1 BP) Argentina | 24–31 | |
| Try: M. Carreras 43' c Penalty try 56' Piccardo 80' c Con: Albornoz (2/2) 44', 80' Pen: Albornoz (1/1) 30' | Report | Try: Freeman 4' m Earl (2) 24' c, 33' c M. Smith 62' Feyi-Waboso 69' m Con: F. Smith (3/5) 24', 33', 62' |
| Estadio Único Madre de Ciudades, Santiago del Estero Attendance: 22,225 Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia) |
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Player of the Match:
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Notes:
- Emmanuel Iyogun (England) made his international debut.
- The seven yellow cards given throughout the match by referee Angus Gardner was a test record.[29]
See also
Notes
- Head Coach Gonzalo Quesada received a one-match ban for this game and was replaced by Fernandez for the game as acting head coach.[26][27]