England set to face Fiji, South Africa and Argentina in inaugural Nations Championship matches
The 12-team competition, which will be held every two years and replaces traditional tours, is set to break new ground next year in the northern hemisphere summer and while the fixture list is yet to be announced, the Guardian has learned current proposals put England in line to face the Springboks in South Africa for the first time since 2018. A return to Argentina – where Steve Borthwick's side will face two Tests this summer – is also on the cards.
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As per tournament protocols, England's proposed match with Fiji would take place in either South Africa or Argentina but it is understood the Pacific Islanders would want the fixture to take place in Europe, mostly likely France where a substantial portion of their squad is based. Should that materialise, it is expected England would play Fiji first before travelling to South Africa and Argentina.
The format of the competition sees the 12 teams split into two conferences - the Six Nations in one and the four Sanzaar countries and two others, expected to be Japan and Fiji, in another. The Sanzaar conference is effectively split into two blocks and the lowest ranked team in each play on neutral territory in an effort to minimise travel. Rather than play in either South Africa or Argentina, however, Fiji are hoping to host England in France while Twickenham has also been mooted as a possible venue.
The Six Nations conference is also split into two blocks so two other nations are set to have the same fixtures as England next summer while the other three would face Australia, Japan and New Zealand. The Six Nations countries then host the three nations they have not yet played the following autumn, meaning England would welcome Australia, Japan and New Zealand to Twickenham in the autumn of 2026. Results from summer and autumn matches contributing to a final ranking.
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On finals weekend, the top teams in each conference will meet each other, with second playing second, and so on, to determine the final rankings. The first grand final is set to be held at Twickenham while other stadiums in London are expected to be used for some of the other ranking matches.
Previously the autumn Test window officially only allowed for nations to have access to their players for three weeks so as a trade-off, next year's Six Nations will be truncated to six weeks with one of the rest weeks removed.
The Nations Championship is set to take place every two years, avoiding a clash with British & Irish Lions tours as well as the World Cup. The 2028 finals weekend is set to be held in the Middle East and the United States is the frontrunner to stage the 2030 edition, a year before hosting the World Cup.
The Nations Championship will be run by the Six Nations and Sanzaar with World Rugby overseeing a tier two competition. Promotion to tier one is not due to happen until 2032 at the earliest, however. Negotiations over a lucrative broadcast deal that would encompass both summer and autumn fixtures are said to be at an advanced stage with TNT Sports considered the frontrunners after a successful first autumn campaign last year.
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