Nations Championship Trophy unveiled

The Nations Championship Trophy has been unveiled ahead of the inaugural international rugby tournament, which will bring together 12 leading teams in a new Northern Hemisphere versus Southern Hemisphere format beginning on July 4.

Nations Championship Trophy Revealed

The newly unveiled Nations Championship Trophy stands 67cm tall and weighs 15kg. It will be awarded to the team that wins the first edition of the global rugby competition.

The trophy design reflects the international identity of the tournament. A gold-plated globe sits at the centre, while the handles feature lines inspired by latitude and longitude. The design symbolises the meeting of rugby’s two hemispheres and the rivalry that will define the competition.

Rugby Nations Championship Format

The Nations Championship will feature the Six Nations teams — England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales — representing the Northern Hemisphere. They will face the Southern Hemisphere group made up of Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Fiji and Japan.

Each team will play six cross-hemisphere fixtures across two windows. The first three rounds will be held in July, followed by three more rounds in November. Points from these matches will decide the rankings in each hemisphere group.

Nations Championship Finals Weekend

The tournament will conclude with a three-day Finals Weekend in London from November 27 to 29. Teams will be matched according to their final group positions, with the top-ranked Northern Hemisphere side facing the top-ranked Southern Hemisphere side in the title decider.

The winner of that final match will become the first Nations Championship champion and lift the newly revealed trophy.

“The Nations Championship will decide the dominant force in global rugby, and the unveiling of the Trophy the teams will compete to win marks the final countdown to the start of a tournament that has been years in the making," said CEO of Six Nations Rugby Tom Harrison.

"Created by the game, for the game, its players and the fans, the Nations Championship is more than just a tournament, it is a catalyst of growth for a sport that is ready to go truly global."

“The waiting is almost over and the anticipation for the inaugural Nations Championship continues to build, and the unveiling of the new trophy signals that kick-off is not far away, added SANZAAR CEO Brendan Morris.

"SANZAAR, the players, the fans and the broadcasters are all excited by the new tournament which starts in the southern hemisphere on July 4 and heralds a new era for northern versus southern rivalry.”