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International rugby’s newest competition will kick off this summer with the world’s top teams in action
ITV has been confirmed as the exclusive free-to-air home of rugby’s new Nations Championship ahead of the inaugural tournament later this year.
The first edition of the new cross-hemisphere tournament will kick off in July, pitting the best sides from the northern and southern hemisphere together in a 12-team competition held every two years. It is a move to transform the summer and autumn international windows and make them more competitive than the series of ‘friendly’ matches currently on offer.
The Six Nations sides – Wales, England, Scotland, Ireland, France and Italy – will represent the northern hemisphere, with the southern hemisphere represented by the Rugby Championship teams – Australia, Argentina, South Africa and New Zealand – as well as Fiji and Japan.
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This year’s maiden tournament will see Wales play away matches against Fiji, Argentina and South Africa in the summer and face Japan, New Zealand and Australia at home in November, before a finals weekend in London.
Every fixture from the competition, as well as its second edition in 2028, will be shown on free-to-air TV by ITV and STV in the UK, with the channel agreeing a deal to become the undisputed home of international rugby in the UK for the next three years.
It comes after the broadcaster signed a deal with the BBC last year to keep the Six Nations on free-to-air TV until 2029, with ITV airing 10 out of the 15 matches in the competition.
Outside of Nations Championships years, the new agreement will see ITV deliver coverage of the Summer Nations Series – including warm-up matchs for next year’s Rugby World Cup – as well as the Autumn Nations Series.
“This is a landmark deal for ITV Sport in securing the future of free-to-air rugby coverage for a UK audience,” said ITV director of sport Niall Sloane. “With a minimum of 124 international matches in the coming four years, we look forward to showcasing the very best of global rugby to enable the game to grow.”
“This is more than a new partnership with ITV; it is a statement of intent for the future of rugby,” added Tom Harrison, CEO of Six Nations Rugby. “Every major moment from the Six Nations and Nations Championship will be available, Free-to-Air, for the next four years, giving fans unprecedented access to the best of international rugby.
“Coupled with significant investment in the sport, from ITV, the game has never been in a stronger position.
“The Nations Championship will redefine the future of rugby,” he added. “The new tournament format has injected competitive meaning into every single fixture across the July and November international rugby windows.
“It is not only compelling for fans but massively enhances the commercial landscape the sport is operating in, and we are seeing this translate into significant partnerships in rugby’s most important territories.
“Securing Free-To-Air coverage for the new tournament is testament to the strength of its format and reflects the anticipation for its debut. The Nations Championship now has an incredible opportunity to establish itself as a fundamental part of the global calendar.”
Brendan Morris, CEO of SANZAAR, also commented: “The Nations Championship is a game changer for rugby union. It brings together the strongest twelve international teams, and the best players, to compete in a uniquely competitive tournament format that will drive global relevance for the sport.
“The joint venture between SANZAAR and Six Nations Rugby highlights the power of collaboration off the pitch to drive rugby’s growth on the field.
“Confirmation of the new broadcast partnership is testament to the strength of the Nations Championship format and gives rugby an incredible platform to build from for the years to come.”
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