Rugby Nations Championship standings 2026: Updated results, tables and fixtures originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The inaugural Rugby Nations Championship sees the 12 best nations competing to win the sport's latest tournament.

The six best teams from the northern hemisphere and the six best from the southern hemisphere will face off over two separate stages in July and November.

Here is everything else you need to know about the 2026 Nations Championship!

Nations Championship Northern Hemisphere Standings 

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Nations Championship Southern Hemisphere Standings 

MORE:How to watch Nations Championship 2026 rugby: Live streams, TV channels

Southern Hemisphere Schedule & Fixtures

New Zealand vs. France

Japan vs. Italy

Australia vs. Ireland

Fiji vs. Wales

South Africa vs. England

Argentina vs. Scotland

New Zealand vs. Italy

Australia vs. France

Japan vs. Ireland

Fiji vs. England

South Africa vs. Scotland

Argentina vs. Wales

New Zealand vs. Ireland

Japan vs. France

Australia vs. Italy

Fiji vs. Scotland

South Africa vs. Wales

Argentina vs. England

Northern Hemisphere Schedule: Fixtures & Results 

Ireland vs. Argentina

Italy vs. South Africa

Scotland vs. New Zealand

Wales vs. Japan

France vs. Fiji

England vs. Australia

France vs. South Africa

Italy vs. Argentina

Wales vs. New Zealand

England vs. Japan

Ireland vs. Fiji

Scotland vs. Australia

England vs. New Zealand

Scotland vs. Japan

Ireland vs. South Africa

Italy vs. Fiji

Wales vs. Australia

France vs. Argentina

What is the Nations Championship in rugby? 

Billed as a clash between the north and south hemispheres, the Nations Championship sees rugby's top 12 international sides compete against each other over two phases in July and November with three games taking place in each month.

The Six Nations sides (England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, France and Italy) will face the four Rugby Championship (New Zealand, South Africa, Australia and Argentina) as well as Fiji and Japan.

How does the Nations Championship work? Format explained 

Each country plays six games against the six teams from the other hemisphere so, for example, England take on New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, Argentina, Fiji and Japan.

Despite that, there will be two tables with the six countries from the northern hemisphere in one and the six countries from the southern hemisphere in the other.

The two countries who finish top of their respective tables will then meet in the inaugural Rugby Nations Championship final.

MORE: Rules, tiebreakers and points scoring in the Nations Championship

When is the Rugby Nations Championship final? 

The first-ever Rugby Nations Championship final will take place on Sunday, November 29 at Twickenham Stadium as part of a weekend of action that will see all 12 countries compete (sixth vs. sixth, fifth vs. fifth from each table).