2026 Nations Championship: Northern Hemisphere Series Preview
With the opening three rounds completed in July, attention now turns to the Northern Hemisphere Series in November, when the remaining fixtures will determine the final standings ahead of Finals Weekend in London.
The competition features six Six Nations teams alongside six Southern Hemisphere representatives, including New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, Argentina, Fiji and Japan. Unlike traditional international tours, the Nations Championship provides a structured series of cross-hemisphere encounters, with every result contributing to the race for the inaugural title.
With three rounds remaining, the November fixtures will be crucial in determining which nations qualify for the top positions and who will contest the championship final. Read on for a closer look at the tournament format, key dates, venues, fixtures and leading contenders.
What Is The Nations Championship Rugby?
The Nations Championship is a new biennial international rugby union competition organised through a partnership between Six Nations Rugby and SANZAAR. Launched in 2026, it brings together 12 national teams in a structured competition designed to strengthen international rugby and create more meaningful matches between the two hemispheres.
The Northern Hemisphere group consists of England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France and Italy, representing the six unions that compete in the annual Six Nations Championship. The Southern Hemisphere group features Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, alongside invitational participants Fiji and Japan.
The competition is separate from the Six Nations and The Rugby Championship. Rather than replacing these established tournaments, it uses the existing international windows in July and November to create additional competitive encounters between northern and southern nations.
The inaugural edition is taking place in 2026, with subsequent editions planned every two years outside Rugby World Cup and British & Irish Lions touring years. The format is designed to give supporters more regular opportunities to watch leading international teams compete against unfamiliar opposition while creating a clear route towards a global championship title.
How Does The Nations Championship Work?
The Nations Championship features 12 teams divided into two groups of six, representing the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Each nation plays six matches against the six teams from the opposite hemisphere, with three fixtures taking place in July and three in November.
The July fixtures formed the Southern Hemisphere Series, with northern teams travelling south to face their opponents. The November fixtures make up the Northern Hemisphere Series, when southern teams travel north to complete the remaining matches.
Competition points follow the established rugby bonus-point system:
A win earns four points.
A draw earns two points.
A defeat earns no points.
One bonus point is awarded for scoring four or more tries.
One bonus point is awarded for losing by seven points or fewer.
These points determine each team’s position within its respective hemisphere group. Results across all six rounds are used to rank the nations from first to sixth in both groups.
Unlike a conventional knockout tournament, there are no semi-finals. Instead, all 12 teams qualify for Finals Weekend, where they face the nation that finishes in the equivalent position in the opposite hemisphere. The two group winners meet in the Grand Final to determine the inaugural Nations Championship champion.
The Finals Weekend also determines which hemisphere claims the overall Hemisphere Challenge title, making every match important throughout the competition.
When Is The Nations Championship Northern Hemisphere Series?
The Northern Hemisphere Series takes place between 6 and 21 November 2026, completing the six-round competition following the opening three rounds in July.
The November window features three rounds of international fixtures. Southern Hemisphere teams travel north to play the remaining Northern Hemisphere opponents, with matches taking place across England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France and Italy.
The key dates are:
Round 4: 6–8 November 2026.
Round 5: 13–15 November 2026.
Round 6: 21 November 2026.
These fixtures will determine the final group standings and establish the match-ups for Finals Weekend.
The July results have already provided an indication of the competitive balance between the two groups. South Africa and New Zealand each recorded three victories, while France, Scotland and England also secured important wins for the Northern Hemisphere.
With the final three rounds still to come, teams will be looking to collect as many competition points as possible before the rankings are confirmed.
When Is The Nations Championship Finals Weekend?
Finals Weekend takes place from 27 to 29 November 2026 at Allianz Stadium in Twickenham, London.
The event brings all 12 participating nations together for six matches across three days, with two fixtures scheduled for each day. Rather than using traditional semi-finals and placement matches, the tournament pairs teams according to their final positions in the two hemisphere groups.
The final match on Sunday will determine the inaugural Nations Championship winner, with the top-ranked team from each hemisphere competing for the main trophy.
There is also a separate Hemisphere Challenge. Seven points are available across the six matches, with one point awarded for each of the five lower-ranked encounters and two points available in the Grand Final. The first hemisphere to collect four points wins the overall challenge.
The Finals Weekend therefore offers more than a single championship decider, giving every participating nation an opportunity to finish the inaugural competition with a significant result.
Where Is The Nations Championship Northern Hemisphere Series Being Held?
The Northern Hemisphere Series features international fixtures across several major European rugby venues. Unlike a conventional tournament hosted in one country, matches are distributed between the participating nations to provide home advantage and bring the competition to supporters across Europe.
England’s home fixtures will take place at Allianz Stadium in Twickenham, London. Ireland will host its matches at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, while Scotland’s home games will be played at Scottish Gas Murrayfield in Edinburgh.
Wales will welcome opponents to the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. France will use two venues during the November series, with fixtures at Groupama Stadium in Lyon and Stade de France in Paris. Italy’s home matches will take place at Allianz Stadium in Turin, Stadio Luigi Ferraris in Genoa and Bluenergy Stadium in Udine.
These venues provide a range of settings for the international fixtures, from established rugby grounds to major stadiums capable of accommodating large travelling crowds.
Finals Weekend will be held exclusively at Allianz Stadium in Twickenham, which will host all six concluding matches between 27 and 29 November.
How Many Teams Are In The Nations Championship?
The inaugural Nations Championship features 12 national teams, divided equally between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
The Northern Hemisphere group includes:
England
France
Ireland
Italy
Scotland
Wales
The Southern Hemisphere group includes:
Argentina
Australia
Fiji
Japan
New Zealand
South Africa
Although Japan is geographically located in the Northern Hemisphere, it participates in the Southern Hemisphere group as an invitational team. Fiji also joins the group alongside the four established SANZAAR nations.
This structure creates a diverse range of international match-ups, bringing together teams with different rugby traditions, playing styles and levels of experience.
Each nation plays six cross-hemisphere matches during the competition, with the results determining its position in the relevant group. All 12 teams then progress to Finals Weekend, where their final rankings determine their opponents.
The format gives every participating nation a meaningful objective throughout the tournament, whether competing for the overall championship, a higher finishing position or the Hemisphere Challenge.
What Are The Nations Championship Northern Hemisphere Series Fixtures?
The Northern Hemisphere Series consists of three rounds of fixtures scheduled between 6 and 21 November 2026. These matches complete the initial six-round competition and determine the rankings for Finals Weekend.
The confirmed fixtures are listed below, with dates and venues.
Round 4 – 6–8 November 2026
6 November: Ireland v Argentina – Aviva Stadium, Dublin
7 November: Italy v South Africa – Allianz Stadium, Turin
7 November: Scotland v New Zealand – Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh
7 November: Wales v Japan – Principality Stadium, Cardiff
7 November: France v Fiji – Groupama Stadium, Lyon
8 November: England v Australia – Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, London
Round 5 – 13–15 November 2026
13 November: France v South Africa – Stade de France, Paris
14 November: Italy v Argentina – Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Genoa
14 November: Wales v New Zealand – Principality Stadium, Cardiff
14 November: England v Japan – Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, London
14 November: Ireland v Fiji – Aviva Stadium, Dublin
15 November: Scotland v Australia – Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Round 6 – 21 November 2026
21 November: England v New Zealand – Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, London
21 November: Scotland v Japan – Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh
21 November: Ireland v South Africa – Aviva Stadium, Dublin
21 November: Italy v Fiji – Bluenergy Stadium, Udine
21 November: France v Argentina – Stade de France, Paris
21 November: Wales v Australia – Principality Stadium, Cardiff
The November schedule features several particularly attractive encounters, including England against New Zealand, Ireland against South Africa and Scotland against Australia. These matches offer opportunities for the Northern Hemisphere sides to improve their standings against some of the world’s strongest rugby nations.
With the final group positions still to be decided, every result could have a significant impact on the Finals Weekend match-ups.
Who Are Favourites To Win The 2026 Nations Championship?
The opening three rounds have provided a clearer picture of the leading contenders, although the November fixtures will ultimately determine which teams reach the Grand Final.
South Africa have made an especially impressive start. The Springboks won all three of their July matches, defeating England 45–21, Scotland 42–28 and Wales 43–0. Their strong performances placed them among the leading contenders for the inaugural title.
New Zealand also recorded three victories, beating France, Italy and Ireland. The All Blacks remain a major threat, particularly given their depth of international experience and ability to perform in high-pressure encounters.
France have emerged as one of the strongest Northern Hemisphere teams. Their victories over Australia and Japan, combined with a narrow defeat against New Zealand, have kept them firmly in contention.
Scotland and England have also demonstrated their potential. Scotland defeated Argentina and Fiji, while England recorded convincing victories over Fiji and Argentina after losing their opening match against South Africa.
Ireland have shown attacking quality, including a victory over Australia, although their defeats against New Zealand and Japan will make the remaining fixtures important.
Australia and Argentina will also be looking to improve their positions during November, while Wales, Italy, Fiji and Japan will be aiming to produce stronger results in the remaining rounds.
South Africa and New Zealand look particularly well placed based on their July performances, but the competition remains open. The final standings, upcoming opposition and performances during Finals Weekend will ultimately determine the inaugural champion.
Bet on the 2026 Nations Championship at Bet442
The 2026 Nations Championship provides rugby supporters with a new international competition featuring some of the biggest names in the sport. With the Northern Hemisphere Series taking place throughout November and Finals Weekend approaching, there are plenty of important matches to follow.
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