The Nations Championship has confirmed its venues for the eagerly anticipated Southern Series, but with a surprising twist: Fiji will play their 'home' games in the UK! Starting off with a bang, the All Blacks will clash with France in a historic opener at Christchurch's brand-new stadium. This is just the beginning of a globe-trotting schedule that will bring the sport's top talents to iconic stadiums worldwide.
The Southern Series, set for July, will see matches held across diverse, renowned venues including Christchurch's One Stadium, Johannesburg's Ellis Park, and Sydney's Allianz Stadium, among others. Yet, in a peculiar move, Fiji's 'home' fixtures will roll out across Cardiff, Liverpool, and Edinburgh, drawing fans to neutral venues in the northern hemisphere.
Adding a layer of excitement, the first-ever Nations Championship fixture will take place at Christchurch's state-of-the-art stadium, marking its debut in international rugby. "This is not just a game; it's history in the making at a venue that promises to be a fortress for rugby," remarked Brendan Morris, CEO of SANZAAR.
"From Ellis Park to Allianz Stadium, this championship is a global showcase of rugby's finest, set in the sport's most iconic stadiums," SANZAAR said.
The competition involves 12 teams split into two groups representing the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Each team will play three games in July and another three in November, culminating in a Finals Weekend in London that promises to be a gripping showdown of rugby prowess.
The new Finals Weekend concept will feature a series of double-headers at London's Allianz Stadium, where the top teams from each hemisphere will vie for the championship title and the right to claim superiority over their counterparts. "The Finals Weekend will not only crown the first champion but also declare the dominant hemisphere in rugby this year," Morris added.
The venues for the Finals Weekend will be announced soon, with tickets going on sale in February and March, ensuring that fans have ample opportunity to witness this groundbreaking chapter in rugby history.
Tom Harrison, CEO of Six Nations Rugby, also commented on the significance of the venues, noting, "The Nations Championship stands alongside the world's premier sports tournaments, bringing top-tier rugby to a global audience on some of the most revered stages in sports."
The announcement has set the stage for what promises to be an enthralling series of matches across both hemispheres, igniting excitement and anticipation among fans and players alike. The question of who will dominate the world of rugby in 2026 hangs in the balance, with every match crucial in the journey to the Finals Weekend in November.
Teams Competing: New Zealand, France, Fiji, Wales, South Africa, England, Argentina, Scotland, Australia, Ireland, Japan, Italy.
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The Nations Championship has confirmed its venues for the eagerly anticipated Southern Series, but with a surprising twist: Fiji will play their 'home' games in the UK! Starting off with a bang, the All Blacks will clash with France in a historic opener at Christchurch's brand-new stadium. This is just the beginning of a globe-trotting schedule that will bring the sport's top talents to iconic stadiums worldwide.
The Southern Series, set for July, will see matches held across diverse, renowned venues including Christchurch's One Stadium, Johannesburg's Ellis Park, and Sydney's Allianz Stadium, among others. Yet, in a peculiar move, Fiji's 'home' fixtures will roll out across Cardiff, Liverpool, and Edinburgh, drawing fans to neutral venues in the northern hemisphere.
Adding a layer of excitement, the first-ever Nations Championship fixture will take place at Christchurch's state-of-the-art stadium, marking its debut in international rugby. "This is not just a game; it's history in the making at a venue that promises to be a fortress for rugby," remarked Brendan Morris, CEO of SANZAAR.
"From Ellis Park to Allianz Stadium, this championship is a global showcase of rugby's finest, set in the sport's most iconic stadiums," SANZAAR said.
The competition involves 12 teams split into two groups representing the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Each team will play three games in July and another three in November, culminating in a Finals Weekend in London that promises to be a gripping showdown of rugby prowess.
The new Finals Weekend concept will feature a series of double-headers at London's Allianz Stadium, where the top teams from each hemisphere will vie for the championship title and the right to claim superiority over their counterparts. "The Finals Weekend will not only crown the first champion but also declare the dominant hemisphere in rugby this year," Morris added.
The venues for the Finals Weekend will be announced soon, with tickets going on sale in February and March, ensuring that fans have ample opportunity to witness this groundbreaking chapter in rugby history.
Tom Harrison, CEO of Six Nations Rugby, also commented on the significance of the venues, noting, "The Nations Championship stands alongside the world's premier sports tournaments, bringing top-tier rugby to a global audience on some of the most revered stages in sports."
The announcement has set the stage for what promises to be an enthralling series of matches across both hemispheres, igniting excitement and anticipation among fans and players alike. The question of who will dominate the world of rugby in 2026 hangs in the balance, with every match crucial in the journey to the Finals Weekend in November.
Teams Competing: New Zealand, France, Fiji, Wales, South Africa, England, Argentina, Scotland, Australia, Ireland, Japan, Italy.