100 Days To Go Until Inaugural Nations Championship Kicks Off
History will be made in 100 days when the inaugural Nations Championship kicks off with a blockbuster opening fixture between New Zealand and France on Saturday July 4, in Christchurch, New Zealand. The opening clash will get the ball rolling on three Saturdays of consecutive fixtures that will dominate the month of July, with Japan beginning their tournament on July 4 when they take on Italy at Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium in Tokyo.
The Nations Championship sees the 12 strongest teams in international rugby compete to win the first edition of the new tournament, claim the title of best team in the world, and establish which is the dominant hemisphere in the global game. The tournament will feature England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales from the Six Nations competing against the four SANZAAR teams from the Southern Hemisphere – Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, alongside Japan and Fiji. Japan has secured its participation as an invited team alongside the Southern Hemisphere SANZAAR teams in 2026, 2028, and 2030.
Held every second year from 2026, the Nations Championship will take place in the existing July and November test match windows. The six Northern Hemisphere teams will tour to face the six Southern Hemisphere teams in July, while in November, the Southern Hemisphere sides will tour to face the six Northern Hemisphere sides. The competition will then culminate in an inaugural Finals Weekend held over three consecutive days from November 27 – 29, featuring three double-headers at Allianz Stadium in London.
To mark the 100 days-to-go milestone, the colours and crests of all 12 competing Nations Championship teams were illuminated on London’s famous Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square. This iconic moment signalled that all roads lead to London for three days of back-to-back international rugby fixtures that will give fans an experience unlike anything else in global sport.
Click HERE for information on tickets for the 2026 Nations Championship Finals Weekend.
2026 Nations Championship Japan Match Schedule
Southern Hemisphere Series
Saturday, July 4
Japan v Italy
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Tokyo
Saturday, July 11
Japan v Ireland
Venue TBC (outside Japan)
Saturday, July 18
Japan v France
National Stadium, Tokyo
Northern Hemisphere Series
November 6 – 8 (Precise date TBC)
Wales v Japan
Principality Stadium, Cardiff
November 13 – 15 (Precise date TBC)
England v Japan
Allianz Stadium, London
Saturday, November 21
Scotland v Japan
Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh
Finals Weekend – London 2026
November 27 – 29
Allianz Stadium
Friday, November 27
Match One: Northern Hemisphere 6th place vs Southern Hemisphere 6th place
Match Two: Northern Hemisphere 3rd place vs Southern Hemisphere 3rd place
Saturday, November 28
Match One: Northern Hemisphere 5th place vs Southern Hemisphere 5th place
Match Two: Northern Hemisphere 2nd place vs Southern Hemisphere 2nd place
Sunday, November 29
Match One: Northern Hemisphere 4th place vs Southern Hemisphere 4th place
Match Two: Northern Hemisphere 1st place vs Southern Hemisphere 1st place