England to open Nations Championship against South Africa

England will begin their Nations Championship campaign with a major test against South Africa in Johannesburg on 4 July, setting up a repeat of the 2019 Rugby World Cup final.

Steve Borthwick’s side will then continue their southern hemisphere tour with matches against Fiji and Argentina as part of the opening phase of the new tournament.

England Summer Nations Championship Fixtures Confirmed

England’s first match will come against the reigning world champions in Johannesburg before they face Fiji on 11 July and Argentina on 18 July. The three fixtures form England’s summer leg in the new cross-hemisphere competition, with all matches taking place away from home.

The opening clash with South Africa is likely to be the headline fixture of England’s summer schedule given the recent history between the two teams and the quality of the opposition.

Nations Championship Format Explained

The tournament will be split across two windows, beginning in July with northern hemisphere teams travelling south. It will then resume in November when England host New Zealand, Australia and Japan at Allianz Stadium.

After six rounds are completed, the competition will end with a finals weekend at Twickenham, where teams will face the nation that finished in the same ranking position from the opposite hemisphere.

The top-ranked northern hemisphere side will meet the top-ranked southern hemisphere side in the final match on 29 November.

Fixtures:

Saturday 4 July

New Zealand v France; 08:10 BST

Japan v Italy; 09:40 BST

Australia v Ireland; 11:10 BST

Fiji v Wales; 14:10 BST

South Africa v England; 16:40 BST

Argentina v Scotland; 20:10 BST

Saturday 11 July

New Zealand v Italy; 06:10 BST

Australia v France; 08:40 BST

Japan v Ireland; 11:10 BST

Fiji v England; 14:10 BST

South Africa v Scotland; 16:40 BST

Argentina v Wales; 20:10 BST

Saturday 18 July

New Zealand v Ireland; 08:10 BST

Japan v France; 09:40 BST

Australia v Italy; 11:10 BST

Fiji v Scotland; 14:10 BST

South Africa v Wales; 16:40 BST

Argentina v England; 20:10 BST

Friday 6 November

Ireland v Argentina; 20:10 GMT

Saturday 7 November

Italy v South Africa 11:40 GMT

Scotland v New Zealand; 14:10 GMT

Wales v Japan; 16:40 GMT

France v Fiji; 20:10 GMT

Sunday 8 November

England v Australia; 15:10 GMT

Friday 13 November

France v South Africa; 20:10 GMT

Saturday 14 November

Italy v Argentina; 11:40 GMT

Wales v New Zealand; 14:10 GMT

England v Japan; 16:40 GMT

Ireland v Fiji; 20:10 GMT

Sunday 15 November

Scotland v Australia; 15:10 GMT

Saturday 21 November

England v New Zealand; 14:10 GMT

Scotland v Japan; 14:10 GMT

Ireland v South Africa; 16:40 GMT

Italy v Fiji; 16:40 GMT

France v Argentina; 20:10 GMT

Wales v Australia; 20:10 GMT

Finals

Friday 27 November

Sixth-placed northern hemisphere side v Sixth-placed southern hemisphere side; 16:40 GMT

Third-placed northern hemisphere side v Third-placed southern hemisphere side; 20:10 GMT

Saturday 28 November

Fifth-placed northern hemisphere side v Fifth-placed southern hemisphere side; 13:10 GMT

Second-placed northern hemisphere side v Second-placed southern hemisphere side 16:40 GMT

Sunday 29 November

Fourth-placed northern hemisphere side v Fourth-placed southern hemisphere side; 13:10 GMT

First-placed northern hemisphere side v First-placed southern hemisphere side; 16:40 GMT