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The New 2026 Nations Championship Explained
- alexander5818
- Jan 13
- 3 min read
International rugby is about to enter a new chapter. In 2026, the inaugural Nations Championship will launch, bringing a fresh and more structured approach to the international calendar.
The new format reshapes how international rugby is played and followed, creating more meaningful fixtures and a clearer narrative. From regular north versus south clashes to a showpiece finals weekend at the Allianz Stadium, here’s a look at what’s changing, and why it matters.
What is the Nations Championship
At its core, the Nations Championship is a major new tournament in international rugby, designed to bring the world’s strongest teams together with one clear goal, to crown an overall champion.
Unlike traditional rugby, where matches often stand alone, this competition creates a connected global format, pitting the best teams from the northern and southern hemispheres against each other on a regular basis. The tournament builds towards a single, high profile finals weekend, where the competition reaches its peak and an outright winner is decided.
Who's involved?
The Six Nations teams - England, France, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Italy - will take on the four Rugby Championship sides - South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Argentina, with Fiji and Japan also representing the southern hemisphere.
This event is filling up fast, as the first event of it's kind, you won't want to miss it!
The New Nations Championship Format
The 2026 Nations Championship introduces a clearer and more competitive structure to international rugby. The tournament features 12 teams, split into two leagues, six from the northern hemisphere and six from the southern hemisphere.
Rather than isolated matches, teams now compete within a structure, where every result contributes to their league standing. This format creates consistent north versus south competition and gives each fixture real context, building momentum and ensuring the tournament has a clear direction from start to finish.
The Nations Championship Finals Weekend
The competition reaches its climax with a standout finals weekend at Allianz Stadium, bringing the entire tournament together in one decisive showcase. Teams face their league counterparts 6th vs 6th, 5th vs 5th, all the way through to a headline 1st vs 1st clash between the top northern and southern hemisphere sides.
This structure ensures every team has something to play for, while the final match crowns the first-ever Nations League Champion. It’s a dramatic, festival-style conclusion that gives international rugby a championship moment.
2026 Finals Weekend Structure
Friday, November 27th
Sixth place North vs Sixth place South, Third place North vs Third place South
Saturday, November 28th
Fifth place North vs Fifth place South, Second place North vs Second place South
Sunday, November 29th
Fourth place North vs Fourth-place South, First place North vs First-place South
Don’t miss your chance to witness history at this inaugural event!
The inaugural Nations Championship begins in July 2026. It’s set to go down in Rugby history crowning its first winner of the new tournament. It’s history, and it’s happening on our doorstep in the Allianz Stadium. It’s a tournament Rugby fans won’t want to miss out on.
Headline Events have partnered with the Allianz stadium to offer you places inside premium hospitality at the Allianz Stadium for the Nations Championship Finals weekend. We have all 3 days offering a premium viewing experience and 2 games of what promises to be exciting rugby per day.
