Nations Championship 2026: Results, fixtures, TV channels and all you need to know about the new biennial international rugby competition

The Nations Championship, aka the newest competition in men’s international rugby, has now played two of its three “Southern Hemisphere” rounds.

As in the first weekend, honours were split equally between the hemispheres, with New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina earning victories in the south, and France, Ireland and England claiming bragging rights for the north. With every team now having played twice, Ireland are leading the northern hemisphere table, while the Springboks top the southern league, separated from the All Blacks by points difference. Only Italy, Australia and Fiji are still looking for their first win in the competition.

The tournament is designed to add an extra competitive element to summer and autumn internationals, while helping to align the global rugby calendar.

The Nations Championship features the six European teams in the Six Nations (England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales), the four Rugby Championship sides (New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Argentina), and Fiji and Japan. (For the purposes of the Nations Championship Japan count as a southern hemisphere side, despite the country being north of the equator.)

Matches take place in July and November place in years when there’s no Rugby World Cup or British & Irish Lions tour.

Below you’ll find everything you need to know about the new competition, including results and scorers so far, top points scorers, Nations Championship 2026 fixtures, a free downloadable wall chart, TV information, and confirmed playing squads for July’s fixtures.

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Nations Championship 2026: Key information

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Nations Championship 2026 broadcasters

Broadcasters for the new competition are as follows:

• UK: ITV (free-to-air)
• Ireland: Virgin Media Television (free-to-air)
• France: TF1 (free-to-air)
• Australia: Stan Sport (subscription) (Wallabies home games free-to-air on Nine network)
• New Zealand: Sky Sport (subscription)
• South Africa: SuperSport (subscription)
• Italy: Sky Italia (subscription)
• Japan: Wowow (subscription)

Read more: How to watch the Nations Championship 2026 from anywhere

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Download your free Nations Championships wall chart

If you are after all of the fixtures in one place, Rugby World has made a handy wall chart for the Nations Championship listing all the games across summer and autumn, including the finals at the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham.

Print it off and stick it on your wall to keep up to date across the two international windows.

The wall chart can be downloaded as a PDF here.

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Nations Championship 2026 results and scorers

Round 1 

Saturday 4 July 2026

New Zealand 34 v 32 France
One New Zealand Stadium, Christchurch

• New Zealand: Tries: Will Jordan (2), Peter Lakai, Cam Roigard (2); Conversions: Ruben Love (2); Penalties: Ruben Love (1)
• France: Tries: Damian Penaud, Antoine Hastoy, Théo Attisogbe, Matthieu Jalibert; Conversions: Maxime Lucu (2), Antoine Hastoy (1); Penalties: Maxime Lucu (2)

Japan 27 v 10 Italy
Tokyo Chichibuomiya Stadium, Tokyo

• Japan: Tries: Warner Dearns, Takuro Matsunaga, Ben Gunter; Conversions: Takuro Matsunaga (3); Penalties: Takuro Matsunaga (2)
• Italy: Juan Ignacio Brex; Conversions: Paolo Garbisi (1); Penalties: Paolo Garbisi (1)

Australia 31 v 33 Ireland
Allianz Stadium, Sydney

• Australia: Tries: Dylan Pietsch, Jock Campbell, Josh Canham, Ryan Lonergan, Tate McDermott; Conversions: Carter Gordon (3)
• Ireland: Tries: Cian Prendergast, Josh van der Flier, Jamison Gibson-Park, Hugo Keenan, Thomas Clarkson; Conversions: Sam Prendergast (5)

Fiji 24 v 39 Wales
Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales

• Fiji: Tries: Pita-Gus Sowakula, Elia Canakaivata, Selestino Ravutaumada; Conversions: Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula (3); Penalties: Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula (1)
• Wales: Tries: Jac Morgan (2), Rhys Carré, Josh Adams, Ryan Elias, Eddie James; Conversions: Dan Edwards, Sam Costelow (2); Penalties: Dan Edwards (1)

South Africa 45 v 21 England
Ellis Park, Johannesburg

Argentina 38 v 47 Scotland
Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes, Cordoba

• Argentina: Tries: Joaquín Oviedo, Rodrigo Isgró, Tomás Rapetti, Lucio Cinti, Augustín Moyano; Conversions: Tomás Albornoz (5); Penalties: Tomás Albornoz (1)
• Scotland: Tries: Sione Tuipulotu, Pierre Schoeman, Rory Hutchinson, Gregor Brown, Scott Cummings, Gregor Hiddleston, Kyle Rowe; Conversions: Tom Jordan (3); Fergus Burke (3)

Round 2

Saturday 11 July 2026

New Zealand 47 v 17 Italy
Hnry Stadium, Wellington

• New Zealand: Tries: Sam Darry, Will Jordan (3), Cam Roigard, Ethan de Groot, Tupou Vaa’i; Conversions: Ruben Love (6)
• Italy: Tries: Tommaso Menoncello, Leonardo Marin; Conversions: Tommaso Allan, Paolo Garbisi; Penalties: Tommaso Allan

Australia 26 v 42 France
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

• Australia: Tries: Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Fraser McReight (2), Jeremy Williams; Conversions: Ryan Longergan (3)
• France: Emmanuel Meafou, Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang (2), Romain  Ntamack, Florian Verhaeghe, Théo Attissogbé; Conversions: Maxime Lucu (3); Penalties: Maxime Lucu (2)

Japan 20 v 36 Ireland
McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle, Australia

• Japan: Tries: Taira Main, Hayate Era; Conversions: Takuro Matsunaga (2); Penalties: Takuro Matsunaga (2)
• Ireland: Tries: Nick Timoney, Tom O’Toole, Robbie Henshaw, Sean Jansen, Tom Stewart; Conversions: Ciaran Frawley (3), Harry Byrne (1); Penalties: Harry Byrne (1)

Fiji 8 v 73 England
Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool, England

• Fiji: Tries: Tevita Ikanivere; Penalties: Caleb Muntz (1)
• England: Tries: Marcus Smith, Jamie George, Guy Pepper, Benhard Janse van Rensburg, Seb Atkinson, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Henry Pollock (3), Henry Slade, Noah Caluori; Conversions: Fin Smith (9)

South Africa 42 v 28 Scotland
Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

• South Africa: Tries: Embrose Papier, Evan Roos, Wilco Louw, Damian Willemse, Zach Porthen, Jesse Kriel; Conversions: Handre Pollard (5), Quan Horn
• Scotland: Matt Fagerson, Kyle Rowe, Josh Bayliss Ben White; Conversions: Finn Russell (4)

Argentina 35 v 21 Wales
Estadio San Juan de Bicentenario, San Juan

• Argentina: Tries: Joaquin Oviedo (2), Justo Piccardo, Marcos Kremer, Santi Carreras; Conversions: Tomás Albornoz (5)
• Wales: Tries: Dewi Lake, Rhys Carre, Ben Warren, Conversions: Sam Costelow (3) 

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Nations Championship 2026 top scorers

Top try scorers

1. Will Jordan (New Zealand)  – 5 tries
2. Cam Roigard (New Zealand), Henry Pollock (England), Joaquin Oviedo (Argentina) – 3 tries
3. Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang, Théo Attissogbé, Fraser McReight, Jac Morgan, Jesse Kriel, Jamie George, Kyle Rowe, Rhys Carre – 2 tries

Top points scorers

1. Takuro Matsunaga (Japan) – 27 points
2. Will Jordan (New Zealand) – 25 points
3. Fin Smith (England) – 24 points

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Upcoming Nations Championship 2026 fixtures

Finals weekend

Friday 27 November 2026

• Northern Hemisphere 6 v Southern Hemisphere 6
  Allianz Stadium, Twickenham
  Kick-off: TBC
• Northern Hemisphere 3 v Southern Hemisphere 3
  Allianz Stadium, Twickenham
  Kick-off: TBC

Saturday 28 November 2026

• Northern Hemisphere 5 v Southern Hemisphere 5
  Allianz Stadium, Twickenham
  Kick-off: TBC
• Northern Hemisphere 2 v Southern Hemisphere 2
  Allianz Stadium, Twickenham
  Kick-off: TBC

Sunday 29 November 2026

• Northern Hemisphere 4 v Southern Hemisphere 4
  Allianz Stadium, Twickenham
  Kick-off: TBC
• Northern Hemisphere 1 v Southern Hemisphere 1
  Allianz Stadium, Twickenham
  Kick-off: TBC

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Nations Championship 2026 squads

The squads for all 12 participating teams will be updated when they are announced in the coming days.

Argentina

Head coach: Felipe Contepomi

Forwards: 

Matías Alemanno, Luciano Asevedo, Francisco Coria Marchetti, Pedro Delgado, Santiago Grondona, Marcos Kremer, Pablo Matera, Franco Molina, Julián Montoya, Joaquin Moro, Joaquin Oviedo, Leonel Oviedo, Juan Penoucos, Guido Petti, Tomás Rapetti, Ignacio Ruiz, Mayco Vivas, Boris Wenger

Backs: 

Tomás Albornoz, Simón Benítez Cruz, Mateo Carreras, Santiago Carreras, Lucio Cinti, Bautista Delguy, Agustín Fraga, Gonzalo García, Rodrigo Isgró, Ignacio Mendy, Matias Moroni, Agustín Moyano, Gerónimo Prisciantelli, Nicolás Roger, Faustino Sánchez Valarolo, Mateo Soler

Australia

Head coach: Joe Schmidt

Forwards:
Allan Alaalatoa, Miles Amatosero, Angus Bell, Charlie Cale, Josh Canham, Nick Champion De Crespigny, Tom Hooper, Fraser McReight, Josh Nasser, Zane Nonggorr, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Billy Pollard, Aidan Ross, Lachlan Shaw, James Slipper, Carlo Tizzano, Taniela Tupou, Rob Valetini, Jeremy Williams, Harry Wilson

Backs:
Jock Campbell, Filipo Daugunu, Ben Donaldson, Josh Flook, Carter Gordon, Len Ikitau, Max Jorgensen, Ryan Lonergan, Tate McDermott, Declan Meredith, Hunter Paisami, Dylan Pietsch, Harry Potter, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Kalani Thomas, Corey Toole, Tom Wright

England

Head coach: Steve Borthwick

Forwards:
Ollie Chessum, Arthur Clark, Alex Coles, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Tom Curry, Theo Dan, Ben Earl, Charlie Ewels, Greg Fisilau, Ellis Genge, Jamie George – captain, Joe Heyes, Ted Hill, George Kloska, George Martin, Beno Obano, Asher Opoku-Fordjour, Guy Pepper, Henry Pollock, Vilikesa Sela

Backs:
Seb Atkinson, Noah Caluori, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, George Ford, Tommy Freeman, George Furbank, Benhard Janse van Rensburg, Alex Mitchell, Cadan Murley, Max Ojomoh, Henry Slade, Fin Smith, Marcus Smith, Ben Spencer, Freddie Steward, Jack van Poortvliet

Fiji

Acting head coach: Senirusi Seruvakula

Forwards:
Levani Botia, Elia Canakaivata, Tim Hoyt, Tevita Ikanivere, Sam Matavesi, Eroni Mawi, Temo Mayanavanua, Isoa Nasilasila, Tevita Ratuva, Peni Ravai, Kitione Salawa, Atunaisa Sokobale, Pita-Gus Sowakula, Luke Tagi, Lekima Tagitagivalu, Zuriel Togiatama, Mesake Vocevoce, Peceli Yato

Backs:
Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, Filimoni Botitu, Vinaya Habosi, Vuate Karawalevu, Simione Kuruvoli, Frank Lomani, Caleb Muntz, Semi Radradra, Kalaveti Ravouvou, Selestino Ravutaumada, Salesi Rayasi, Josua Tuisova, Jiuta Wainiqolo, Sam Wye

France

Head coach: Fabien Galthié

Forwards:
Moses Alo-Emile, Hugo Auradou, Demba Bamba, Pierre Bochaton, Esteban Capilla, Sipili Falatea, Marko Gazzotti, Loïs Guérois, Mickaël Guillard, Oscar Jegou, Maxime Lamothe, Lucas Martin, Barnabé Massa, Temo Matiu, Régis Montagne, Boris Palu, Jefferson Poirot, Emerick Setiano, Tom Staniforth, Tevita Tatafu, Killian Tixeront, Reda Wardi

Backs:
Christian Ambadiang, Théo Attissogbe, Fabien Brau-Boirie, Nicolas Depoortere, Mathis Ferté, Théo Forner, Emilien Gailleton, Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang, Antoine Hastoy, Matthieu Jalibert, Baptiste Jauneau, Louis Le Brun, Nolann Le Garrec, Maxime Lucu, Yoram Moefana, Damian Penaud, Max Spring

Ireland

Head coach: Andy Farrell

Forwards:
Tadhg Beirne, Billy Bohan, Thomas Clarkson, Jack Conan, Caelan Doris, Tadhg Furlong, Sam Illo, Cormac Izuchukwu, Sean Jansen, Ronan Kelleher, Jeremy Loughman, Joe McCarthy, Darragh Murray, Tom O’Toole, Cian Prendergast, James Ryan, Dan Sheehan, Tom Stewart, Nick Timoney, Josh van der Flier

Backs:
Bundee Aki, Rob Baloucoune, Harry Byrne, Craig Casey, Nathan Doak, Ciaran Frawley, Jamison Gibson-Park, Robbie Henshaw, Hugo Keenan, Stuart McCloskey, Jimmy O’Brien, Tommy O’Brien, Jamie Osborne, Sam Prendergast, Garry Ringrose, Jacob Stockdale

Italy

Head coach: Gonzalo Quesada

Forwards:
Lorenzo Cannone, Niccolò Cannone, Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, Pablo Dimcheff, Riccardo Favretto, Danilo Fischetti, Muhamed Hasa, Michele Lamaro, Gianmarco Lucchesi, Giulio Marini, Ion Neculai, David Odiase, Alessandro Ortombina, Marco Riccioni, Federico Ruzza, Mirco Spagnolo, Ross Vintcent, Andrea Zambonin

Backs:
Tommaso Allan, Giuli Bertaccini, Juan Ignacio Brex, Giacomo Da Re, Malik Faissal, Alessandro Fusco, Alessandro Garbisi, Paolo Garbisi, Monty Ioane, Louis Lynagh, Leonardo Marin, Tommaso Menoncello, Paolo Odogwu, Lorenzo Pani, Stephen Varney

Japan

Head coach: Eddie Jones

Forwards:
Jack Cornelsen, Tiennan Costley, Warner Dearns, Hayate Era, Ben Gunter, Esei Haangana, Mamoru Harada, Harry Hockings, Yota Kamimori, Michael Leitch, Takato Okabe, Sojiro Otsuka, Waisake Raratubua, Kenji Sato, Kanji Shimokawa, Michael Stolberg, Izi Sword, Keijiro Tamefusa, Shuhei Takeuchi

Backs:
Inoke Burua, Yuya Hirose, Takuro Hojo, Kippei Ishida, Ryunosuke Ito, Itsuki Kamimura, Haruto Kida, Shinya Komura, Takuro Matsunaga, Shogo Nakano, Dylan Riley, Naoto Saito, Samisoni Tua, Kazuma Ueda, Shunsuke Uenobo, Haruto Watanabe

New Zealand

Head coach: Dave Rennie

Forwards:
Asafo Aumua, George Bower, Sam Darry, Ethan De Groot, Luke Jacobson, Peter Lakai, Tyrel Lomax, Josh Lord, Fletcher Newell, Xavier Numia, Simon Parker, Ardie Savea (captain), Anton Segner, Wallace Sititi, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Patrick Tuipulotu, Pasilio Tosi, Tupou Vaa’i

Backs:
Beauden Barrett, Jordie Barrett, Leroy Carter, Caleb Clarke, Fehi Fineanganofo, Will Jordan, Anton Lienert-Brown, Ruben Love, Damian McKenzie, Josh Moorby, Billy Proctor, Kyle Preston, Cortez Ratima, Cameron Roigard, Quinn Tupaea

Scotland

Head coach: Gregor Townsend

Forwards:
Ewan Ashman, Josh Bayliss, Magnus Bradbury, Gregor Brown, Scott Cummings, Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey, Freddy Douglas, Matt Fagerson, Zander Fagerson, Jonny Gray, Gregor Hiddleston, Will Hurd, Nathan McBeth, Liam McConnell, Elliot Millar Mills, D’arcy Rae, Alex Samuel, Pierre Schoeman, Seb Stephen, Rory Sutherland, Max Williamson

Backs:
Fergus Burke, Jamie Dobie, Darcy Graham, George Horne, Rory Hutchinson, Tom Jordan, Stafford McDowall, Kyle Rowe, Finn Russell, Ollie Smith, Kyle Steyn, Sione Tuipulotu, Duhan van der Merwe, Ben White

South Africa

Head coach: Rassie Erasmus

Forwards:
Ben-Jason Dixon, Lood de Jager, Paul de Villiers, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Thomas du Toit, Johan Grobbelaar, Cameron Hanekom, Siya Kolisi, Wilco Louw, Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche, Ruan Nortje, Riley Norton, Zachary Porthen, Evan Roos, Carlu Sadie, Gerhard Steenekamp, Vincent Tshituka, Ruben van Heerden, Marco van Staden, Andre-Hugo Venter, Boan Venter, Cobus Wiese, Jasper Wiese, Jan-Hendrik Wessels 

Backs:
Damian de Allende, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Andre Esterhuizen, Aphelele Fassi, Quan Horn, Herschel Jantjies, Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Manie Libbok, Canan Moodie, Vusi Moyo, Embrose Papier, Handre Pollard, Cobus Reinach, Edwill van der Merwe, Grant Williams, Jaco Williams, Damian Willemse

Wales

Head coach: Steve Tandy

Forwards:
Adam Beard, James Botham, Ben Carter, Rhys Carre, Ben Carter, Ryan Elias, Kane James, Dewi Lake (captain), Dillon Lewis, Evan Lloyd, Alex Mann, Jac Morgan, Taine Plumtree, Tommy Reffell, Nicky Smith, Gareth Thomas, Aaron Wainwright, Ben Warren, Teddy Williams

Backs:
Josh Adams, Sam Costelow, Dan Edwards, Mason Grady, Kieran Hardy, Joe Hawkins, Eddie James, Max Llewellyn, Ellis Mee, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Blair Murray, Louis Rees-Zammit, Ben Thomas, Tomos Williams

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