Nations Championship
International rugby union competition
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Nations Championship is a biennial international men's rugby union competition, which is scheduled to take place in the mid-year and end-of-year international windows in even-numbered years. The inaugural edition began in 2026.[1]
Upcoming season or competition: 2026 Nations Championship | |
 | |
| Sport | Rugby union |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2023 |
| First season | 2026 |
| No. of teams | 12 |
| Broadcasters | List of broadcasters |
Format
The competition consists of twelve teams, involving the current Six Nations (England, France, Italy, Ireland, Scotland and Wales) and SANZAAR (Argentina, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand) unions, in addition to two invited unions, Fiji and Japan.[2] The competition is scheduled to be held in even-numbered years, as these are the years when there is no British & Irish Lions tour or Rugby World Cup, both of which are prestigious and of commercial importance to the sport.[3]
The format of the competition includes a "European Conference", consisting of the Six Nations unions, and a "SANZAAR and Pacific Conference" comprising the four SANZAAR nations and the two invited unions (Japan and Fiji). Each team will play the six nations in the opposing conference across the July and November test windows, following which each team will play their equivalent-placed finisher in the opposing hemisphere, with a grand final between the top ranked finishers of each conference to be played at the end of the November window to decide the tournament champion.[4]
World Rugby Nations Cup
A second competition, run by World Rugby, is taking place concurrently and consists of twelve further teams, with promotion and relegation between the divisions commencing from the start of the third edition in 2030.
Teams
With no promotion and relegation in the first two editions, the following teams will contest the first three editions.
| Team | Competition | Region |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Hemisphere | ||
 England |
Six Nations Championship | Europe |
 France |
Six Nations Championship | Europe |
 Ireland |
Six Nations Championship | Europe |
 Italy |
Six Nations Championship | Europe |
 Scotland |
Six Nations Championship | Europe |
 Wales |
Six Nations Championship | Europe |
| Southern Hemisphere | ||
 Argentina |
The Rugby Championship | South America |
 Australia |
The Rugby Championship | Oceania |
 Fiji |
Pacific Nations Cup | Oceania |
 Japan[a] |
Pacific Nations Cup | Asia |
 New Zealand |
The Rugby Championship | Oceania |
 South Africa |
The Rugby Championship | Africa |
Results
Qualification results
| Team | 2026 |
 2028 |
2030 |
Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Argentina |
TBD | TBD | TBD | 3 |
 Australia |
TBD | TBD | TBD | 3 |
 England |
TBD | TBD | TBD | 3 |
 Fiji |
TBD | TBD | TBD | 3 |
 France |
TBD | TBD | TBD | 3 |
 Ireland |
TBD | TBD | TBD | 3 |
 Italy |
TBD | TBD | TBD | 3 |
 Japan |
TBD | TBD | TBD | 3 |
 New Zealand |
TBD | TBD | TBD | 3 |
 Scotland |
TBD | TBD | TBD | 3 |
 South Africa |
TBD | TBD | TBD | 3 |
 Wales |
TBD | TBD | TBD | 3 |
| Total | 12 | 12 | 12 | 3 |
Criticism
The creation of the Nations Championship has received criticism for 'ring-fencing' smaller nations outside elite competition and narrowing their opportunities to play against top nations.[7] It has also been criticised for potentially devaluing the Rugby World Cup.[8] World Rugby's Chief Executive Alan Gilpin has defended against this criticism by stating “the suggestions that this just makes the rich richer are misplaced. This creates a better landscape” whilst adding that there will be “50% guaranteed more crossover fixtures” in non-tournament years.[9]
Broadcasting rights
Broadcasters include:
| Territory | Rights holder | Ref. |
|---|---|---|
 Andorra |
Movistar Plus+ | |
| Asia | Premier Sports | |
 Canada | ||
| Australia |
[10][11] | |
 Austria |
ProSiebenSat.1 Media | |
 Germany | ||
 Liechtenstein | ||
 Luxembourg | ||
 Switzerland | ||
| Caribbean | ESPN | |
 Czech Republic |
Nova Sport | |
 Slovakia | ||
 Estonia |
Go3 Sport | |
 Latvia | ||
 Lithuania | ||
| Fiji |
FBC | |
| France |
TF1 | [12][13] |
 Georgia |
Rugby TV | |
 Ireland |
Virgin Media | [14][15] |
| Italy |
Sky | [16] |
 San Marino | ||
| Japan |
Wowow | [17] |
| Latin America | ESPN | |
 MENA |
Starzplay | |
 Netherlands |
Ziggo Sport | |
| New Zealand |
Sky Sport | [18][19] |
| Pacific Islands | Digicel | |
 Papua New Guinea | ||
 Portugal |
Sport TV | |
 Romania |
Digi Sport | |
 Spain |
Movistar Plus+ | |
| Sub-saharan Africa | SuperSport | |
 United Kingdom |
ITV (English)[c] | [20] |
| S4C (Welsh)[d] | ||
 United States |
RugbyPass |
See also
Notes
- Although Japan is not in the Southern Hemisphere, it is grouped with other Pacific Ocean nations.[5][6]
- All Australia matches played on Australian soil. (See also § Australian anti-siphoning laws).
- ITV1 and ITV4 in England, Wales, Southern Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and Channel Islands; STV in Scotland.
- Wales matches only.