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The Rugby Nations Championship 2026 standings, results, tables, and fixtures were originally published by The Sporting News. You can mark The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by selecting the link here. The inaugural Nations Championship brings together the 12 strongest rugby nations to contest the sport’s newest premier competition. The format splits the field into two halves: the top six teams from the Northern Hemisphere and the top six from the Southern Hemisphere will compete in two distinct phases, with matches scheduled in July and November.
Back-to-back world champions South Africa are the favourites, having dominated the sport for the past decade, while France, the Six Nations winners, and New Zealand are among the primary challengers. Les Bleus were dealt a significant setback before the tournament began when captain Antoine Dupont was ruled out for the first three rounds. However, Bordeaux scrum-half Maxime Lucu has shown exceptional form and is expected to play a starring role. Here is everything you need to know about the 2026 Nations Championship.
Current standings (group phase) show Ireland at the top with two wins from two games and 18 points, followed by France with two wins and 43 points, Scotland with two wins, and England, Wales, and Italy trailing in the table with a mix of wins, losses, and points differences. In the Southern Hemisphere group, South Africa leads with two wins and 38 points, closely followed by New Zealand with two wins and 32 points. Argentina sits with one win and five points, while Japan and Australia have yet to register wins, and Fiji has not yet secured a win either, with their points totals reflecting the current results.
Round-by-round schedule highlights include: Round 1 on July 4, featuring New Zealand against France; Japan versus Italy; Australia against Ireland; Fiji against Wales; South Africa against England; Argentina against Scotland. Round 2 on July 11 includes New Zealand vs Italy; Australia vs France; Japan vs Ireland; Fiji vs England; South Africa vs Scotland; Argentina vs Wales. Round 3 on July 18 features New Zealand vs Ireland; Japan vs France; Australia vs Italy; Fiji vs Scotland; South Africa vs Wales; Argentina vs England. The schedule continues with a fourth round in November, opening with Ireland versus Argentina on November 6, followed by Italy vs South Africa on November 7, and Scotland vs New Zealand on November 7, among other matches. The fifth round spans November 13–14, with France facing South Africa and England confronting Japan, as well as Italy versus Argentina, Wales versus New Zealand, and Ireland versus Fiji. The sixth and final round runs on November 21, including England vs New Zealand, Scotland vs Japan, Ireland vs South Africa, Italy vs Fiji, Wales vs Australia, and France vs Argentina.
This competition is billed as a north-versus-south showdown, bringing together rugby’s top 12 international teams to determine the continent-crossing champion. For fans seeking the best coverage, the Nations Championship is positioned as rugby’s premier cross-hemisphere event, with the participants and fixtures designed to maximize rivalry and showcase the sport’s premier talents. The event aims to deliver a comprehensive battle between the strengths of northern and southern rugby, delivering a tournament that captures the passion of fans on both sides of the equator.