The inaugural Rugby Nations Championship sees the 12 best nations competing to win the sport’s latest tournament.
The six best teams from the northern hemisphere and the six best from the southern hemisphere will face off over two separate stages in July and November.
Back-to-back world champions South Africa are favourites having dominated over the last decade, with Six Nations champions France and New Zealand among their biggest challengers.
Les Bleus suffered a big blow prior to kick off with captain Antoine Dupont set to sit out the first three rounds but Bordeaux scrum half Maxime Lucu is in the form of his life and set for a starring role.
Here is everything else you need to know about the 2026 Nations Championship!
Nations Championship Northern Hemisphere Standings
| Pos | Team | PTS | GP | W | L | D | PTS DIF | Bonus |
| 1. | Ireland | 10 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 2 |
| 2. | France | 7 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 3 |
| 3. | Scotland | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | -5 | 2 |
| 4. | England | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 41 | 1 |
| 5. | Wales | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 6. | Italy | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | -47 | 0 |
Nations Championship Southern Hemisphere Standings
| Pos | Team | PTS | GP | W | L | D | PTS DIF | Bonus |
| 1. | South Africa | 10 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 2 |
| 2. | New Zealand | 10 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 2 |
| 3. | Argentina | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 |
| 4. | Japan | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 5. | Australia | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | -18 | 3 |
| 6. | Fiji | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | -80 | 0 |
MORE: How to watch Nations Championship 2026 rugby: Live streams, TV channels
Southern Hemisphere Schedule: Fixtures & Results
| Round | Match | Date |
| Round 1 | New Zealand vs. France | July 4, 2026 |
| Round 1 | Japan vs. Italy | July 4, 2026 |
| Round 1 | Australia vs. Ireland | July 4, 2026 |
| Round 1 | Fiji vs. Wales | July 4, 2026 |
| Round 1 | South Africa vs. England | July 4, 2026 |
| Round 1 | Argentina vs. Scotland | July 4, 2026 |
| Round 2 | New Zealand vs. Italy | July 11, 2026 |
| Round 2 | Australia vs. France | July 11, 2026 |
| Round 2 | Japan vs. Ireland | July 11, 2026 |
| Round 2 | Fiji vs. England | July 11, 2026 |
| Round 2 | South Africa vs. Scotland | July 11, 2026 |
| Round 2 | Argentina vs. Wales | July 11, 2026 |
| Round 3 | New Zealand vs. Ireland | July 18, 2026 |
| Round 3 | Japan vs. France | July 18, 2026 |
| Round 3 | Australia vs. Italy | July 18, 2026 |
| Round 3 | Fiji vs. Scotland | July 18, 2026 |
| Round 3 | South Africa vs. Wales | July 18, 2026 |
| Round 3 | Argentina vs. England | July 18, 2026 |
Northern Hemisphere Schedule: Fixtures & Results
| Round | Match | Date |
| Round 4 | Ireland vs. Argentina | November 6, 2026 |
| Round 4 | Italy vs. South Africa | November 7, 2026 |
| Round 4 | Scotland vs. New Zealand | November 7, 2026 |
| Round 4 | Wales vs. Japan | November 7, 2026 |
| Round 4 | France vs. Fiji | November 7, 2026 |
| Round 4 | England vs. Australia | November 8, 2026 |
| Round 5 | France vs. South Africa | November 13, 2026 |
| Round 5 | Italy vs. Argentina | November 14, 2026 |
| Round 5 | Wales vs. New Zealand | November 14, 2026 |
| Round 5 | England vs. Japan | November 14, 2026 |
| Round 5 | Ireland vs. Fiji | November 14, 2026 |
| Round 5 | Scotland vs. Australia | November 15, 2026 |
| Round 6 | England vs. New Zealand | November 21, 2026 |
| Round 6 | Scotland vs. Japan | November 21, 2026 |
| Round 6 | Ireland vs. South Africa | November 21, 2026 |
| Round 6 | Italy vs. Fiji | November 21, 2026 |
| Round 6 | Wales vs. Australia | November 21, 2026 |
| Round 6 | France vs. Argentina | November 21, 2026 |
What is the Nations Championship in rugby?
Billed as a clash between the north and south hemispheres, the Nations Championship sees rugby’s top 12 international sides compete against each other over two phases in July and November with three games taking place in each month.
The Six Nations sides (England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, France and Italy) will face the four Rugby Championship (New Zealand, South Africa, Australia and Argentina) as well as Fiji and Japan.
How does the Nations Championship work? Format explained
Each country plays six games against the six teams from the other hemisphere so, for example, England take on New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, Argentina, Fiji and Japan.
Despite that, there will be two tables with the six countries from the northern hemisphere in one and the six countries from the southern hemisphere in the other.
The two countries who finish top of their respective tables will then meet in the inaugural Rugby Nations Championship final.
MORE: Rules, tiebreakers and points scoring in the Nations Championship
When is the Rugby Nations Championship final?
The first-ever Rugby Nations Championship final will take place on Sunday, November 29 at Twickenham Stadium as part of a weekend of action that will see all 12 countries compete (sixth vs. sixth, fifth vs. fifth from each table).