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All Blacks to host France, Italy and Ireland as Nations Championship era begins
The Nations Championship replaces traditional tours with competitive July and November fixtures, culminating in a finals weekend where 12 nations compete for the title.
- On Monday, rugby chiefs launched the Nations Championship, a new biennial tournament starting July 2026 with 12 teams and finals at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, London on November 27.
- To give more purpose to the Test schedule, organisers restructured the July and November Test windows to award Nations Championship points, a Six Nations Rugby and SANZAAR partnership organisers called a major shift.
- New Zealand will host France on July 4, Italy on July 11 and Ireland on July 18, with each nation playing six matches and points deciding finals pairings.
- The Rugby Championship will shift to a two-year cycle, while World Rugby announced a Nations Cup next year with reports of possible promotion and relegation.
- The schedule also creates logistical questions as organisers say the Championship will intensify cross-hemisphere rivalries and commercial value, amid speculation Fiji may play on neutral ground.
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New Global Rugby Competition Formally Launched
[Image: Wiki Commons] International rugby was given an overhaul this week with the launch of a new global rugby competition that creates a new battle of the hemispheres away from the World Cup. Starting in 2026, the Nations Championship will give a wider context to test matches between teams from the northern and southern hemispheres, setting up a “north vs. south” finals weekend. The finale will be held at Twickenham, the home of English rugby,…
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Leaning Left1Leaning Right0Center4Last UpdatedBias Distribution80% Center
Bias Distribution
- 80% of the sources are Center
80% Center
L 20%
C 80%
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