In just over three weeks the inaugural Nations Championship begins. It’s a new competition that transforms the way men’s international rugby works over the July and November Test windows every two years outside a Rugby World Cup and British & Irish Lions tour year.
WRUtv sat down with Dewi Lake, Gareth Thomas and Aaron Wainwright as they chatted through the new format in their own unique way. Watch the video below.
New format recap
Twelve nations will form two groups of six teams. The Six Nations teams will form a European group representing the Northern Hemisphere and take on the SANZAAR nations of South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina plus Japan and Fiji, who form a group nominally representing the Southern Hemisphere.
This July, the Northern Hemisphere group of teams will travel to play three rounds of fixtures, with every team playing a different rival from the opposing Hemisphere group. Then in November, the Southern Hemisphere group travels north for the remaining three rounds.
Points are on offer across the July and November windows to then dictate the table standings per Hemisphere group and inform the schedule of fixtures for the Nations Championship Finals Weekend.
Allianz Stadium, Twickenham will host the first ever finals weekend from Friday 27 to Sunday 29 November 2026. During finals weekend there will be six fixtures spread across three days of double headers.
The first ranked team in the Northern Hemisphere group will play the first ranked team in the Southern Hemisphere group to be crowned champions. Teams will also be competing to earn points for their group to decide the winning Hemisphere in the sport that year.
Tickets for Fiji v Wales are available to buy now via Cardiff City Stadium and Ticketmaster.
Tickets for all the November matches at Principality Stadium are on sale now at MY.WRU.WALES
Reward your roots with every ticket purchase this autumn
For the first time ever, the WRU is giving supporters the chance to select from any one of Wales’ rugby club of their choice to receive a £2 contribution from every ticket purchased. It is a direct investment into Welsh rugby from the ground up, ensuring that the financial support generated by the national team travels back to the pitches, the clubhouses, and the people that keep Welsh rugby alive.
To select a club and make a donation, supporters simply need to visit MY.WRU.WALES which has been connected to the WRU’s eticketing platform for a seamless ticket purchasing experience.
Wales Men’s Nations Championship fixtures
JULY WINDOW
All live on ITV. Welsh language coverage to be confirmed in due course.
Times are for Wales unless otherwise stated.
- Round One: 4 July 2026 – Fiji v Wales, Cardiff City Stadium, KO 14.10h.
- Round Two: 11 July 2026 – Argentina v Wales, Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario, San Juan, KO 20.10h BST / 16.10h local time
- Round Three: 18 July 2026 – South Africa v Wales, Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban KO 16.40h BST / 17.40h local time
NOVEMBER WINDOW
All at Principality Stadium and live on ITV. Welsh language coverage to be confirmed in due course.
All times are for Wales.
- Round Four: 7 November 2026 – Wales v Japan, KO 16.40h
- Round Five: 14 November 2026 – Wales v New Zealand KO 14.10h
- Round Six: 21 November 2026 – Wales v Australia KO 20.10h
FINALS WEEKEND
Friday 27 November
Match 1: Northern Hemisphere 6 v Southern Hemisphere 6, KO 16.40h
Match 2: Northern Hemisphere 3 v Southern Hemisphere 3, KO 20.10h
Saturday 28 November
Match 1: Northern Hemisphere 5 v Southern Hemisphere 5, KO 13.10h
Match 2: Northern Hemisphere 2 v Southern Hemisphere 2, KO 16.40h
Sunday 29 November
Match 1: Northern Hemisphere 4 v Southern Hemisphere 4, KO 13.10h
Match 2: Northern Hemisphere 1 v Southern Hemisphere 1, KO 16.40h
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