World Rugby Nations Championship: Date, teams, format, location & more

World Rugby's ambitious new Nations Championship tournament will launch in 2026.

A biennial competition featuring the participants of both the Six Nations and Rugby Championship, the Nations Championship could be set to bring about a new era of international rugby.

Here is everything you need to know about World Rugby's Nations Championship.

What is the World Rugby Nations Championship

The World Rugby Nations Championship is a new biennial international rugby union competition which will take place in the existing mid-year and end-of-year fixture windows.

The competition has been designed to merge the participating teams of the Six Nations and Rugby Championship.

World Rugby Nations Championship dates

The inaugural World Rugby Nations Championship will take place in the July and November test windows in 2026.

World Rugby Nations Championship teams

The World Rugby Nations Championship will be made up of 12 teams - the current Six Nations participants, four SANZAAR representatives and two further invited unions:

Six Nations teams

• England
• France
• Italy
• Ireland
• Scotland
• Wales

SANZAAR teams

• Argentina
• Australia
• South Africa
• New Zealand

It has been widely reported that Fiji and Japan will be the final two nations invited to compete in the inaugural World Rugby Nations Championship.

World Rugby Nations Championship format

The World Rugby Nations Championship will split teams into a 'European Conference', made up of the Six Nations, and a 'Rest of World Conference' comprised of the four SANZAAR nations and the two additional invitees.

Each team will play the six nations in the opposing Conference, with a grand final to be played between whoever finishes top of each table.

A second division, named the Challenger Series, will take place at the same time.

In the third edition of the World Rugby Nations Championship, promotion and relegation will be possible alongside the Challenger Series.

World Rugby Nations Championship location

London is the current frontrunner to host the inaugural finals of the World Rugby Nations Championship, with a lucrative approach from Qatar having been knocked back.

Twickenham, the home of English rugby, is one of a number of big stadiums in London which could be in line to host the event.