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Fixtures and standings as Nations Championship returns

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4 July 2026

Updated 4 hours ago

The Nations Championship resumes on Friday with Ireland taking on Argentina in Dublin, as the battle for continental supremacy heats up.

After three rounds of home games for southern hemisphere nations in July, the northern hemisphere teams are the hosts for the final three rounds.

Six Nations champions France, who play Fiji on Saturday, head the standings in the north with 12 points, and as things stand would play world champions South Africa in the inaugural final at Allianz Stadium on 29 November.

But with France set to host South Africa on Friday, 13 November, before taking on Argentina on 21 November, that could all change.

Scotland are one point behind Les Bleus but face a tricky match against New Zealand – a team they have never beaten – at Murrayfield on Saturday before games against Australia and Japan.

Third-placed England have 10 points and play Australia – who are third in the southern standings – at Allianz Stadium on Sunday before taking on Japan and New Zealand.

Ireland, who also have 10 points, face the challenge of taking on South Africa in the final round after playing Fiji in their second home game.

Wales beat Fiji before losing to Argentina and South Africa in their opening three matches. Their home games are against Japan, New Zealand and Australia.

Bottom-side Italy lost all three of their away games and face South Africa on Saturday.

The Springboks beat England, Scotland and Wales at home in their opening three Tests to lead New Zealand on points difference.

Autumn fixtures

Friday, 6 November

Ireland v Argentina (20:10 GMT)

Saturday, 7 November

Italy v South Africa (11:40 GMT)

Scotland v New Zealand (14:10 GMT)

Wales v Japan (16:40 GMT)

France v Fiji (20:10 GMT)

Sunday, 8 November

England v Australia (15:10 GMT)

Friday, 13 November

France v South Africa (20:10 GMT)

Saturday, 14 November

Italy v Argentina (11:40 GMT)

Wales v New Zealand (14:10 GMT)

England v Japan (16:40 GMT)

Ireland v Fiji (20:10 GMT)

Sunday, 15 November

Scotland v Australia (15:10 GMT)

Saturday, 21 November

England v New Zealand (14:10 GMT)

Scotland v Japan (14:10 GMT)

Ireland v South Africa (16:40 GMT)

Italy v Fiji (16:40 GMT)

France v Argentina (20:10 GMT)

Wales v Australia (20:10 GMT)

Standings

What is the Nations Championship?

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The Nations Championship pits the northern hemisphere teams who compete in the Six Nations – England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France and Italy – against southern hemisphere giants South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina, plus invited sides Fiji and Japan.

All teams will play each of the six in the opposing hemisphere once, with three rounds of fixtures staged in July and another three in November.

Their results will rank the teams within their own hemisphere, from one to six.

On the final weekend in November, there is a three-day play-off event staged at Allianz Stadium in Twickenham. The sixth-placed team in the northern hemisphere plays off against the equivalent in the southern hemisphere standings and so on, culminating in the two top-ranked sides taking each other on.

The winner of that final match is crowned the inaugural Nations Championship winner.

There is also a parallel, Ryder-Cup style hemisphere title. The winner of each of the matches on the play-offs weekend will earn one point for their hemisphere, except for the contest between the two top-ranked teams which delivers two.

The first hemisphere to earn four points over the weekend will be crowned winners.