Nations Championship 2026: Fixtures, Results, Dates, Times, Full Schedule

2026 Nations Championship: Fixtures, Scores, Full schedule, dates, times, results, venues for rugby's new tournament.

The Nations Championship is World Rugby’s new tournament for 12 teams. It brings together the best teams from the northern and southern hemispheres so they can play each other more often.

The idea is to match up the rugby calendars of both hemispheres and guarantee big games, giving more meaning to international matches between World Cups.

When does it start?

The first Nations Championship begins in July 2026.

How does it work?

Each team plays six games:

• Three away games in the southern hemisphere in July

• Three home games in the northern hemisphere in November

After these matches, a Finals Weekend will be held at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium from November 27 to 29. The results from the first six games decide who plays who in the finals. Each northern team will face the southern team that has the same ranking.

Who is playing in 2026?

• England start in South Africa, then play Fiji and Argentina.

• Ireland face Australia, Japan and New Zealand.

• Scotland meet Argentina, South Africa and Fiji.

• Wales play Fiji and Argentina before taking on the Springboks.

Nations Championship 2026 Fixtures, Results, Kick-off times of every game

July 4

New Zealand 34-32 France

Japan 27-10 Italy

Australia 31-33 Ireland

Fiji 24-39 Wales

South Africa 45-21 England

Argentina 38-47 Scotland

July 11

New Zealand 47-17 Italy

Australia 26-42 France

Japan 20-36 Ireland

Fiji 8-73 England

South Africa 42-28 Scotland

Argentina 35-21 Wales

July 18

New Zealand v Ireland (08:10 BST)

Japan v France (09:40 BST)

Australia v Italy (11:10 BST)

Fiji v Scotland (14:10 BST)

South Africa v Wales (16:40 BST)

Argentina v England (20:10 BST)

Friday, 6 November

Ireland v Argentina (20:10 GMT)

Saturday, 7 November

Italy v South Africa (11:40 GMT)

Scotland v New Zealand (14:10 GMT)

Wales v Japan (16:40 GMT)

France v Fiji (20:10 GMT)

Sunday, 8 November

England v Australia (15:10 GMT)

Friday, 13 November

France v South Africa (20:10 GMT)

Saturday, 14 November

Italy v Argentina (11:40 GMT)

Wales v New Zealand (14:10 GMT)

England v Japan (16:40 GMT)

Ireland v Fiji (20:10 GMT)

Sunday, 15 November

Scotland v Australia (15:10 GMT)

Saturday, 21 November

England v New Zealand (14:10 GMT)

Scotland v Japan (14:10 GMT)

Ireland v South Africa (16:40 GMT)

Italy v Fiji (16:40 GMT)

France v Argentina (20:10 GMT)

Wales v Australia (20:10 GMT) 

Finals Weekend (Twickenham)

27 November

Sixth-place North v Sixth-place South (16:40 GMT)

Third-place North v Third-place South (20:10 GMT)

28 November

Fifth-place North v Fifth-place South (13:10 GMT)

Second-place North v Second-place South (16:40 GMT)

29 November

Fourth-place North v Fourth-place South (13:10 GMT)

First-place North v First-place South (16:40 GMT) 

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