Hold onto your hats, rugby fans, because the Rugby Championship as we know it is on the brink of extinction! The word on the street is that this venerable Southern Hemisphere showdown could be shelved until at least 2029, making way for a fresh format featuring extended tours by each nation.
This seismic shift comes hot on the heels of a fiercely contested Rugby Championship, where a mere two points separate the leaders, Australia, from the trailing Argentinians. Each of the four teams has snagged two wins from their quartet of matches, cranking up the competition to near-breaking point.
Rumbling through the grapevine is news of the All Blacks’ ambitious tour to South Africa next year, a marathon of matches that includes clashes against all four United Rugby Championship teams and a trio of tests against the Springboks. Rumor has it there might even be a fourth face-off in November in Europe, setting the stage alongside the 2026 end-of-year tests.
"This is the dawn of a new era for Southern Hemisphere rugby,"
heralds the shift towards a tour-based approach starting in 2028. This overhaul means the traditional six-game Rugby Championship format will make its next appearance only in 2029, with the 2027 edition also trimmed down owing to the Rugby World Cup in Australia.In 2028, the Wallabies are expected to embark on two three-test tours, potentially squaring off against the All Blacks and either the Springboks or Pumas. Despite the overhaul, the Bledisloe Cup remains a fixture, albeit in a condensed two-test series next year, with talks of an ANZAC Day special brewing.
David Kirk from New Zealand Rugby expressed openness to the ANZAC Day idea, hinting at more innovations in how these traditional rivalries are honored. As we look to these sweeping changes, it's clear that the landscape of international Southern Hemisphere rugby is set for a thrilling transformation. Buckle up, because it's going to be a wild ride!