World Rugby's new 12-team Nations Championship is set to crown its inaugural champions this November. The tournament realigns northern and southern hemisphere calendars, guaranteeing high-profile fixtures between the Six Nations and Rugby Championship sides. After a series of matches in July, the competition moves to Europe for the final round-robin fixtures in November.
The top four teams from each hemisphere will advance to a Twickenham Finals Weekend from November 27 to 29. The format ensures meaningful international windows between World Cups. The All Blacks' Haka and other rugby rituals are featured alongside the competition structure.
England and New Zealand face off in a blockbuster on November 21, setting up a potential Finals clash. The tournament features 12 teams: England, France, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Italy from the north, and South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Argentina, Fiji, and Japan from the south. Results from the opening six matches determine rankings for the knockout stage.
The competition aims to add structure and meaning to the existing international rugby calendar.
Source: Sky Sports Champions League · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing