The inaugural Nations Championship returns in November for its decisive three-round series, with 12 international teams competing for their final group positions ahead of a six-match Finals Weekend in London.
The tournament resumes on Friday, 6 November, when Ireland host Argentina at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. England, France, Scotland, Wales and Italy will also return to action as the Northern Hemisphere nations face their Southern Hemisphere opponents.
South Africa and New Zealand lead the Southern Hemisphere standings after winning all three of their July fixtures. France occupy first place in the Northern Hemisphere group, although Scotland, England and Ireland remain within reach.
The November programme will determine the final positions in both groups. Those rankings will decide the match-ups for Finals Weekend at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, from 27 to 29 November.
Unlike traditional knockout tournaments, every nation will remain involved until the end. The two group leaders will meet in the inaugural Nations Championship final, while the other ten teams will contest their corresponding classification matches.
For supporters, November brings another opportunity to assess the leading international sides before the competition awards its first overall championship.
What is the Nations Championship?
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Nations Championship is a new international rugby union competition featuring 12 national teams from across the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
The tournament brings together the Six Nations countries and six Southern Hemisphere representatives.
England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales make up the Northern Hemisphere group. South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Argentina, Japan and Fiji form the Southern Hemisphere group.
Each nation plays six matches against teams from the opposite hemisphere. Three fixtures take place during July, followed by three more in November.
The competition then concludes with Finals Weekend in London.
The format gives international rugby a connected championship structure across the two established Test windows. It also ensures that results against teams from the opposite hemisphere determine each nation’s final position.
According to the official Nations Championship website, the competition will take place every two years.
Nations Championship 2026 standings after July
The July fixtures established the initial positions in both groups.
South Africa and New Zealand each collected three victories, leaving them level on 15 competition points. The Springboks hold first place in the Southern Hemisphere group because of their superior points difference.
France lead the Northern Hemisphere standings with 12 points after winning twice. Scotland follow with 11, while England and Ireland have collected ten points apiece.
The November matches will determine whether those positions change.
Northern Hemisphere standings
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Lost | Points | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | France | 3 | 2 | 1 | 12 | +41 |
| 2 | Scotland | 3 | 2 | 1 | 11 | +11 |
| 3 | England | 3 | 2 | 1 | 10 | +48 |
| 4 | Ireland | 3 | 2 | 1 | 10 | -1 |
| 5 | Wales | 3 | 1 | 2 | 5 | -42 |
| 6 | Italy | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | -94 |
Southern Hemisphere standings
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Lost | Points | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Africa | 3 | 3 | 0 | 15 | +81 |
| 2 | New Zealand | 3 | 3 | 0 | 15 | +51 |
| 3 | Australia | 3 | 1 | 2 | 8 | +29 |
| 4 | Argentina | 3 | 1 | 2 | 7 | -2 |
| 5 | Japan | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | -26 |
| 6 | Fiji | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | -96 |
Standings after three rounds in July 2026. Points include bonus points. Source: Nations Championship official standings.
The tables highlight two different situations heading into November. Points difference, calculated by subtracting points conceded from points scored, could prove crucial when teams finish level on competition points.
France have a narrow advantage over Scotland, England and Ireland in the Northern Hemisphere. England also have the strongest points difference among those four countries, despite sitting third.
In the south, South Africa and New Zealand have established themselves as the leading contenders. Both remain unbeaten, although the Springboks have the better points difference.
Australia and Argentina will also look to improve their positions, while Japan and Fiji face a difficult task if they want to climb the standings.
November 2026 Nations Championship fixtures
Embed from Getty ImagesThe November programme contains 18 matches across three rounds, with each team completing its six-match championship schedule.
All kick-off times below are UK time (GMT).
Round four: 6–8 November
The competition resumes with Ireland against Argentina in Dublin on Friday evening.
Saturday brings five more nations into action, including Scotland’s meeting with New Zealand and Italy’s challenge against South Africa.
| Date | Fixture | Kick-off | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 November | Ireland v Argentina | 8.10 pm | Aviva Stadium |
| 7 November | Italy v South Africa | 11.40 am | Allianz Stadium, Turin |
| 7 November | Scotland v New Zealand | 2.10 pm | Murrayfield |
| 7 November | Wales v Japan | 4.40 pm | Principality Stadium |
| 7 November | France v Fiji | 8.10 pm | Groupama Stadium |
| 8 November | England v Australia | 3.10 pm | Allianz Stadium, Twickenham |
Ireland will want to make home advantage count against Argentina, while Scotland face a significant examination against the unbeaten All Blacks.
England’s meeting with Australia provides another important contest. Both sides need a strong November campaign to improve their final Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere rankings respectively.
Round five: 13–15 November
The second weekend features several important encounters, including France against South Africa in Paris.
England host Japan, while Wales welcome New Zealand to Cardiff. Ireland also face Fiji in Dublin.
| Date | Fixture | Kick-off | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 November | France v South Africa | 8.10 pm | Stade de France |
| 14 November | Italy v Argentina | 11.40 am | Stadio Luigi Ferraris |
| 14 November | Wales v New Zealand | 2.10 pm | Principality Stadium |
| 14 November | England v Japan | 4.40 pm | Allianz Stadium, Twickenham |
| 14 November | Ireland v Fiji | 8.10 pm | Aviva Stadium |
| 15 November | Scotland v Australia | 3.10 pm | Murrayfield |
France against South Africa stands out as one of the weekend’s biggest fixtures.
France will have the opportunity to test themselves against the current Southern Hemisphere leaders. South Africa, meanwhile, will aim to protect their position at the top of the group.
Wales face another demanding assignment against New Zealand, while Scotland’s meeting with Australia could influence the final positions in both groups.
Round six: 21 November
The final round of the main championship phase takes place on Saturday, 21 November.
All 12 nations will complete their six-match schedules, with several fixtures carrying direct implications for the Finals Weekend rankings.
| Fixture | Kick-off | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| England v New Zealand | 2.10 pm | Allianz Stadium, Twickenham |
| Scotland v Japan | 2.10 pm | Murrayfield |
| Ireland v South Africa | 4.40 pm | Aviva Stadium |
| Italy v Fiji | 4.40 pm | Bluenergy Stadium |
| France v Argentina | 8.10 pm | Stade de France |
| Wales v Australia | 8.10 pm | Principality Stadium |
England against New Zealand is a particularly significant fixture. The meeting at Twickenham could influence which nation finishes at the top of the Northern Hemisphere group and which team leads the Southern Hemisphere standings.
Ireland against South Africa also presents a major challenge for the hosts.
France will face Argentina in Paris, while Wales meet Australia in Cardiff. These matches will complete the regular championship programme before the final rankings determine the London pairings.
Fixtures and venues are listed in the official Nations Championship match centre.
Which teams are in contention for the Nations Championship title?
Embed from Getty ImagesThe championship picture remains open, but the July results provide a useful indication of the teams entering November with the strongest positions.
South Africa
South Africa lead the Southern Hemisphere group with 15 points and a points difference of +81.
The Springboks won all three July matches, defeating England, Scotland and Wales.
Their performances included a 45–21 victory over England and a 43–0 win against Wales. They also beat Scotland 42–28.
The November schedule presents three more difficult assignments against Italy, France and Ireland.
South Africa’s points advantage over New Zealand gives them the initial lead, but their final position will depend on the remaining results.
New Zealand
New Zealand also collected 15 points from three victories.
The All Blacks defeated France 34–32, Italy 47–17 and Ireland 40–21.
Their November fixtures include Scotland, Wales and England. Those three matches will provide a substantial test as they look to finish above South Africa.
The meeting with England on 21 November could prove particularly important for their final ranking.
France
France lead the Northern Hemisphere group with 12 points.
Their July campaign included victories over Australia and Japan, although New Zealand edged them 34–32 in the opening round.
France have an opportunity to strengthen their position with November matches against Fiji, South Africa and Argentina.
The contest against South Africa could be particularly important for their championship ambitions.
Scotland, England and Ireland
Scotland, England and Ireland all remain within reach of France.
Scotland have 11 points, while England and Ireland each have ten. England’s superior points difference could become significant if the teams finish level.
Scotland will face New Zealand, Australia and Japan. England meet Australia, Japan and New Zealand, while Ireland play Argentina, Fiji and South Africa.
The final standings could change considerably over those three weekends.
Australia, Argentina, Wales, Japan, Italy and Fiji
The remaining six nations also have important positions to contest.
Australia start third in the Southern Hemisphere group with eight points. Argentina follow with seven, while Japan have four.
Wales lead Italy in the Northern Hemisphere’s lower positions, having collected five points compared with Italy’s zero.
Fiji have also yet to secure a competition point.
However, all six nations have three matches remaining. Their final rankings will determine which opponents they face in London.
How does the Nations Championship format work?
The competition uses a points system to rank the teams within their respective hemispheres.
The standard scoring system awards:
- Four points for a victory.
- Two points for a draw.
- Zero points for a defeat.
- One bonus point for scoring at least four tries.
- One bonus point for losing by seven points or fewer.
A team can earn both bonus points in the same match.
After six rounds, the six Northern Hemisphere teams and six Southern Hemisphere teams will each receive a final ranking from first to sixth.
Those positions determine the Finals Weekend pairings.
There are no conventional semi-finals or quarter-finals. Instead, the teams meet their counterparts from the opposite hemisphere.
Nations Championship Finals Weekend 2026
Embed from Getty ImagesThe inaugural Nations Championship will conclude at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, between Friday, 27 November and Sunday, 29 November.
Six matches will take place across three days, with two fixtures scheduled for each day.
The first-placed Northern and Southern Hemisphere teams will meet in the final match to determine the inaugural overall champion.
The remaining teams will contest classification matches based on their group positions.
| Date | Fixture | Kick-off |
|---|---|---|
| 27 November | Northern 6th v Southern 6th | 4.40 pm |
| 27 November | Northern 3rd v Southern 3rd | 8.10 pm |
| 28 November | Northern 5th v Southern 5th | 1.10 pm |
| 28 November | Northern 2nd v Southern 2nd | 4.40 pm |
| 29 November | Northern 4th v Southern 4th | 1.10 pm |
| 29 November | Northern 1st v Southern 1st | 4.40 pm |
All six matches will take place at Allianz Stadium in London.
The weekend will also decide the Hemisphere Challenge, a separate competition between the northern and southern groups.
Each of the first five matches awards one point to the winning hemisphere, while the final between the two group leaders carries two points.
That means seven points are available across the weekend. The first hemisphere to reach four points wins the Hemisphere Challenge.
There are also special provisions for drawn matches. The classification matches use a 10-minute Golden Point period. If neither side scores, the match remains drawn and the hemisphere points are shared.
The championship final has two 10-minute Golden Point periods. If the teams remain level, place-kicking decides the winner.
These provisions mean the final weekend offers two separate prizes: the Nations Championship trophy for the winning nation and the Hemisphere Challenge title.
What to watch during November
The November fixtures will provide the final evidence of which teams can sustain their performances across the full championship.
South Africa and New Zealand enter the second half with identical points totals, making their respective results particularly important.
France also have an opportunity to strengthen their position in the north, although Scotland, England and Ireland remain close enough to challenge.
England’s final match against New Zealand could be especially important if the hosts are still competing for first place in their group.
Meanwhile, the classification matches should give every nation a clear objective beyond simply winning the overall championship.
By the time the final whistle sounds at Twickenham on 29 November, the inaugural Nations Championship will have crowned its first champion and established the winning hemisphere.
The tournament’s first edition is therefore heading towards a decisive three weeks of international rugby, with the final standings still to be settled.
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