England’s hopes of making a flying start to the inaugural Nations Championship have taken a major hit after the full fixture list was confirmed.
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Launching on Saturday, July 4, the competition will bring together the 12 leading nations from the northern and southern hemispheres in a connected championship format that links the traditional July and November windows for the first time.
The tournament begins with a blockbuster opening weekend headlined by the All Blacks hosting France in the first-ever international match at Christchurch’s One New Zealand Stadium. The July “Southern Series” sees northern hemisphere nations travel south, before the competition resumes in November with the “Northern Series” ahead of a Finals Weekend at the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham.
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Fans in the UK can watch every match live on ITV and STV, while Virgin Media Television will carry coverage in Ireland and TF1 will broadcast fixtures in France.
Six Nations Rugby CEO Tom Harrison said: “This July sets the tone for the Nations Championship. Three consecutive ‘Super Saturdays’ with back-to-back fixtures, starring the best teams in the sport, all competing to win the sport’s newest titles and silverware.”
2026 Nations Championship Southern Series
Round 1 – Saturday, July 4
New Zealand v France — One New Zealand Stadium, Christchurch
Kick-off: 7:10pm local / 8:10am BST
Japan v Italy — Tokyo Chichibunomiya Stadium, Tokyo
Kick-off: 5:40pm local / 9:40am BST
Australia v Ireland — Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Kick-off: 8:10pm local / 11:10am BST
Fiji v Wales — Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff
Kick-off: 2:10pm local / 2:10pm BST
South Africa v England — Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 5:40pm local / 4:40pm BST
Argentina v Scotland — Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes, Cordoba
Kick-off: 4:10pm local / 8:10pm BST
Round 2 – Saturday, July 11
New Zealand v Italy — Hnry Stadium, Wellington
Kick-off: 5:10pm local / 6:10am BST
Australia v France — Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Kick-off: 5:40pm local / 8:40am BST
Japan v Ireland — McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Kick-off: 8:10pm local / 11:10am BST
Fiji v England — Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool
Kick-off: 2:10pm local / 2:10pm BST
South Africa v Scotland — Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 5:40pm local / 4:40pm BST
Argentina v Wales — Estadio San Juan de Bicentenario, San Juan
Kick-off: 4:10pm local / 8:10pm BST
Round 3 – Saturday, July 18
New Zealand v Ireland — Eden Park, Auckland
Kick-off: 7:10pm local / 8:10am BST
Japan v France — Tokyo National Stadium, Tokyo
Kick-off: 5:40pm local / 9:40am BST
Australia v Italy — HBF Park, Perth
Kick-off: 6:10pm local / 11:10am BST
Fiji v Scotland — Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Kick-off: 2:10pm local / 2:10pm BST
South Africa v Wales — Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban
Kick-off: 5:40pm local / 4:40pm BST
Argentina v England — Estadio Unico Madre de Ciudades, Santiago del Estero
Kick-off: 4:10pm local / 8:10pm BST
POLL:
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