England are in line to begin their inaugural Nations Championship campaign in just over a year’s time by playing Fiji – potentially in Europe – as well as away matches against South Africa and Argentina, the Guardian understands.
The 12-team competition, which will be held every two years and replaces traditional tours, will break new ground next year in the northern hemisphere summer and, while the fixture list is yet to be announced, the Guardian has learned that existing proposals put England in line to face the Springboks in South Africa for the first time since 2018. A return to Argentina – where Steve Borthwick’s side will play two Tests this summer – is also on the cards.
As per tournament protocols, England’s proposed match with Fiji would take place in either South Africa or Argentina but it is understood the Pacific Islanders would want the fixture to take place in Europe, mostly likely France where a substantial portion of their squad is based. Should that materialise, it is expected that England would play Fiji first before travelling to South Africa and Argentina.
The format of the competition splits the 12 teams into two conferences – the Six Nations in one and the four South African, New Zealand Australian and Argentinian Rugby (Sanzaar) countries and two others, expected to be Japan and Fiji, in another. The Sanzaar conference is in effect split into two blocks and the lowest-ranked team in each play on neutral territory in an effort to minimise travel. Rather than play in either South Africa or Argentina, however, Fiji are hoping to host England in France while Twickenham has also been mooted as a possible venue.
The Six Nations conference is also split into two blocks so two other nations would have the same fixtures as England next summer while the other three would face Australia, Japan and New Zealand. The Six Nations countries would then host the three nations they have not yet played the following autumn, meaning England would welcome Australia, Japan and New Zealand to Twickenham in late 2026. Results from summer and autumn matches would contribute to a final ranking.
On finals weekend, the top teams in each conference will meet each other, with second playing second, and so on, to determine the final rankings. The first grand final is to be held at Twickenham while other stadiums in London are expected to be used for some of the other ranking matches.
Previously the autumn Test window officially allowed nations to have access to their players for only three weeks, so as a trade‑off the Six Nations next year will be truncated to six weeks, with one of the rest weeks removed.
The Nations Championship is to take place every two years, avoiding a clash with British & Irish Lions tours as well as the World Cup. The 2028 finals weekend is to be held in the Middle East and the US is the frontrunner to stage the 2030 edition, a year before hosting the World Cup.
The Nations Championship will be run by the Six Nations and Sanzaar with World Rugby overseeing a tier‑two competition. Promotion to tier one is not due to take place until 2032 at the earliest, however.
Negotiations over a lucrative broadcast deal that would encompass both summer and autumn fixtures are said to be at an advanced stage with TNT Sports considered the frontrunner after a successful first autumn campaign last year.
