A new era of international rugby gets underway this July with the inaugural edition of the Nations Championship.
The action begins in New Zealand, while all four of the home nations are in action against southern hemisphere opposition.
So for anyone wondering exactly what to watch out for in this new competition, we have you covered.
What is the Nations Championship?
A new competition launching in July 2026, the Nations Championship is a revamp of the international fixtures between north and south.
In July, teams from the north will head south to take on three opponents, before the teams from the south do the same in November.
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At the end of those six rounds of action, the teams will be separated into two tables – one for the Six Nations sides, and one for the southern hemisphere teams (plus Japan).
The teams competing in this competition are England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France and Italy, who will be representing the Northern Hemisphere, while the Southern Hemisphere teams will be Argentina, Australia, Fiji, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa.
There will then be a Finals Weekend at Allianz Stadium in Twickenham on the final weekend in November which will see sides from each hemisphere take on their respective finisher in the table. For example the teams who finish sixth will meet on Friday November 27 as part of a double header, with the third-place finishers facing off in the second game that evening.
It will culminate with the battle of the top two sides on Sunday November 29, with the results of the Finals Weekend set to determine the dominant nation and the balance of power between hemispheres.
Where the Nations Championship matches happening?
Over three weeks in July, teams from the north will be travelling around the Southern Hemisphere for their encounters.
The opening weekend sees Ireland take on Australia in Sydney, while England face South Africa in Johannesburg and Scotland are in Cordoba to take on Argentina. Fiji have chosen to host their games in the UK, and they will therefore take on Wales in Cardiff at Cardiff City Stadium.
The other two games on Saturday pit France against New Zealand in Christchurch, before Italy face Japan in Tokyo.
Where to watch the Nations Championship?
The good news for rugby fans is that the games are available to watch free on terrestrial television.
ITV have won the rights for the entire competition in the UK, while in Ireland, the games will be shown on Virgin Media.
The opening weekend’s fixtures are as follows:
New Zealand v France - One New Zealand Stadium, Christchurch. Kick-off: 8.10am BST – TV: ITV1, ITVX (UK), UTV, Virgin Media 1 (Ireland)
Japan v Italy - Tokyo Chichibuomiya Stadium, Tokyo. Kick-off: 9.40am BST – TV: ITV4, ITVX (UK), ITV4, Virgin Media Player (Ireland)
Australia v Ireland - Allianz Stadium, Sydney. Kick-off: 11.10am BST – TV: ITV1, ITVX (UK), UTV, Virgin Media 1 (Ireland)
Fiji v Wales - Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales. Kick-off: 2.10pm BST – TV: ITV1, ITVX, S4C, BBC iPlayer (UK), UTV, Virgin Media 1 (Ireland)
South Africa v England - Ellis Park, Johannesburg. Kick-off: 4.40pm BST – TV: ITV4, ITVX (UK), ITV4, Virgin Media 1 (Ireland)
Argentina v Scotland - Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes, Cordoba. Kick-off: 8.00pm BST – TV: ITV4, ITVX (UK), ITV4, Virgin Media 1 (Ireland)
Which Lions players are playing?
There are British & Irish Lions in action everywhere you turn this weekend.
Going in chronological order, the first of the home nations in action are Ireland, who will be led by Lions Test starter Dan Sheehan.
Andy Farrell has placed his faith in a host of his Lions contingent from last summer, including series clincher Hugo Keenan at full-back in a back-line that also features Garry Ringrose, Jamie Osborne and Jamison Gibson-Park.
Joining Sheehan up front after Tadhg Furlong, Joe McCarthy and James Ryan in the front five, with Josh van der Flier and Jack Conan in the back row. There are more Lions on the bench in the shape of Ronan Kelleher, Thomas Clarkson and Bundee Aki.
In Cardiff, Wales will take on Fiji with three Lions in the backs, 2021 tourists Louis Rees Zammit and Josh Adams on the wings, and Tomos Williams at scrum-half a year on from his trip Down Under. In the pack, Adam Beard and Jac Morgan are both named as starters, having toured South Africa and Australia respectively.
England will take on world champions South Africa at Ellis Park in Johannesburg, with a similarly influential Lions spine. Tommy Freeman and Fin Smith get the nod after their fine form with Northampton Saints, while in the pack, Ellis Genge, Jamie George and back-row trio Ollie Chessum, Tom Curry and Ben Earl are all including in the starting line-up. Lions quartet Luke Cowan-Dickie, Henry Pollock, Alex Mitchell and Marcus Smith will be looking to add impact off the bench.
Last but not least, Scotland take on Argentina in Cordoba, captained by Lions centre Sione Tuipulotu. Ben White will look to build on a strong season from scrum-half, while the front five is boosted by Lions trio Pierre Schoeman, Ewan Ashman and Scott Cummings. On the bench, Zander Fagerson, Gregor Brown and Darcy Graham should all have a part to play.
