Nations Championship 100-day countdown begins

The countdown to the inaugural Nations Championship has reached 100 days, with the new international rugby competition set to begin on July 4, 2026.

The tournament will open with a major clash between New Zealand and France in Christchurch, launching a new cross-hemisphere format that will run across July and November before ending with a Finals Weekend in London.

Nations Championship 2026 Set For Historic Launch

The opening match will see reigning Six Nations champions France take on the All Blacks in Christchurch. The fixture will also be the first international rugby match played at One New Zealand Stadium.

Organisers are positioning the tournament as a major new chapter for the international game, with 12 leading national teams divided into Northern and Southern Hemisphere groups.

Cross-Hemisphere Rugby Format Explained

The competition will be played in two phases. In July, Northern Hemisphere teams will travel south for three rounds of matches against different Southern Hemisphere opponents.

In November, the Southern Hemisphere sides will head north for the remaining fixtures. Final standings in each hemisphere group will then determine the Finals Weekend matchups, with first playing first, second facing second, and so on down to sixth against sixth.

London Finals Weekend Tickets On Sale

London is already being promoted as the centrepiece of the tournament’s conclusion in November.

To mark the 100-day milestone, Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square was lit in the colours and crests of the 12 competing teams.