Nations Championship?
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Heard a couple of good points from Aussie Matt Williams on an Irish pod…
Saffas are effectively playing Euro club rugby with RC in what would be their off-season and continue playing for clubs during 6N so where do they get a break in the new calendar? Excess travel etc etc.
Certain countries have barely played each other in years so more regular meetings - reflected better in rankings.
English and French clubs still won’t relent on their schedule and 6N maybe needed to be condensed.
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Interesting. Slowly drip feeding details on the rules
The two lowest-ranked sides in the Nations Cup – one from each hemisphere – would face the highest-ranked sides in the Challenger series, with the winners of those games either being promoted to the Nations Cup, or keeping their place in it.
The concept would somewhat allay fears of the Nations Cup becoming a ‘closed shop’ – as well as proving games with genuine edge for broadcasters.
“It's a jeopardy game,” Morris said. “But it wouldn't impact your status for the Six Nations or Rugby Championship. That's the key difference from the last model.”
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Interesting. Slowly drip feeding details on the rules
The two lowest-ranked sides in the Nations Cup – one from each hemisphere – would face the highest-ranked sides in the Challenger series, with the winners of those games either being promoted to the Nations Cup, or keeping their place in it.
The concept would somewhat allay fears of the Nations Cup becoming a ‘closed shop’ – as well as proving games with genuine edge for broadcasters.
“It's a jeopardy game,” Morris said. “But it wouldn't impact your status for the Six Nations or Rugby Championship. That's the key difference from the last model.”
@Winger said in Six Nations, SANZAAR New tournaments in 2026:
Interesting. Slowly drip feeding details on the rules
The two lowest-ranked sides in the Nations Cup – one from each hemisphere – would face the highest-ranked sides in the Challenger series, with the winners of those games either being promoted to the Nations Cup, or keeping their place in it.
The concept would somewhat allay fears of the Nations Cup becoming a ‘closed shop’ – as well as proving games with genuine edge for broadcasters.
“It's a jeopardy game,” Morris said. “But it wouldn't impact your status for the Six Nations or Rugby Championship. That's the key difference from the last model.”
When a core 6N or RC nation drops out of top tier, how does that work. Say Italy drop out, they still play 6N but none of those games count towards their opposition's League points, Georgia will only play the games versus SH...
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@Winger said in Six Nations, SANZAAR New tournaments in 2026:
Interesting. Slowly drip feeding details on the rules
The two lowest-ranked sides in the Nations Cup – one from each hemisphere – would face the highest-ranked sides in the Challenger series, with the winners of those games either being promoted to the Nations Cup, or keeping their place in it.
The concept would somewhat allay fears of the Nations Cup becoming a ‘closed shop’ – as well as proving games with genuine edge for broadcasters.
“It's a jeopardy game,” Morris said. “But it wouldn't impact your status for the Six Nations or Rugby Championship. That's the key difference from the last model.”
When a core 6N or RC nation drops out of top tier, how does that work. Say Italy drop out, they still play 6N but none of those games count towards their opposition's League points, Georgia will only play the games versus SH...
@Machpants said in Six Nations, SANZAAR New tournaments in 2026:
@Winger said in Six Nations, SANZAAR New tournaments in 2026:
Interesting. Slowly drip feeding details on the rules
The two lowest-ranked sides in the Nations Cup – one from each hemisphere – would face the highest-ranked sides in the Challenger series, with the winners of those games either being promoted to the Nations Cup, or keeping their place in it.
The concept would somewhat allay fears of the Nations Cup becoming a ‘closed shop’ – as well as proving games with genuine edge for broadcasters.
“It's a jeopardy game,” Morris said. “But it wouldn't impact your status for the Six Nations or Rugby Championship. That's the key difference from the last model.”
When a core 6N or RC nation drops out of top tier, how does that work. Say Italy drop out, they still play 6N but none of those games count towards their opposition's League points, Georgia will only play the games versus SH...
From this maybe only the crossover points count. That also why it's the bottom teams from each hemisphere.
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As I've said, the Six Nations and TRC do NOT count towards the Nations Cup - it's ONLY the cross-over games in July and November. That was explicitly mentioned in the press release.
The top two sides, one from each Hemisphere, will then face off in a 'grand final'. So, SA and NZ could conceivably win all their games in a season (although that's obviously quite unusual) but then only one would play in the final.
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As I've said, the Six Nations and TRC do NOT count towards the Nations Cup - it's ONLY the cross-over games in July and November. That was explicitly mentioned in the press release.
The top two sides, one from each Hemisphere, will then face off in a 'grand final'. So, SA and NZ could conceivably win all their games in a season (although that's obviously quite unusual) but then only one would play in the final.
@Mr-Fish said in Six Nations, SANZAAR New tournaments in 2026:
As I've said, the Six Nations and TRC do NOT count towards the Nations Cup - it's ONLY the cross-over games in July and November. That was explicitly mentioned in the press release.
The top two sides, one from each Hemisphere, will then face off in a 'grand final'. So, SA and NZ could conceivably win all their games in a season (although that's obviously quite unusual) but then only one would play in the final.
That is pretty much how I read it and to me that makes it totally contrived. If it were to be meaningful it would just be the top two teams playing off and if that means it is NZ and SA or ireland and France then so be it.
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We will see, I still reckon the comp doesn't count towards the Nations cup, but the games within it do! But we will all see as time goes along!
@Dan54 said in Six Nations, SANZAAR New tournaments in 2026:
We will see, I still reckon the comp doesn't count towards the Nations cup, but the games within it do! But we will all see as time goes along!
The games can't count because that would require all 12 of the participating nations to take part in either the TRC or the Six Nations.
Even in a scenario where Fiji and Japan are added to the Rugby Championship (which, at least in the former's case, is very unlikely), you're then completely excluding any other sides from taking part (e.g. Georgia, Samoa) unless the TRC/6N introduces promotion/relegation. The 6N have already categorically ruled that out, and I don't think the TRC would consider it either.
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@Dan54 said in Six Nations, SANZAAR New tournaments in 2026:
We will see, I still reckon the comp doesn't count towards the Nations cup, but the games within it do! But we will all see as time goes along!
The games can't count because that would require all 12 of the participating nations to take part in either the TRC or the Six Nations.
Even in a scenario where Fiji and Japan are added to the Rugby Championship (which, at least in the former's case, is very unlikely), you're then completely excluding any other sides from taking part (e.g. Georgia, Samoa) unless the TRC/6N introduces promotion/relegation. The 6N have already categorically ruled that out, and I don't think the TRC would consider it either.
@Mr-Fish They don't have to join any comp, the RC will be played over one round (good) and then there will be a couple of extra tests against Fiji,Japan or Tonga , and same in 6n it's been shoertened to a 5 week comp it seems, but there will only be promo relegation for 1 team in each hemisphere. The whole idea of a world league is everyone plays everyone during it, and so using existing matches makes sense. Anyway as I said we will await and see.
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@Mr-Fish They don't have to join any comp, the RC will be played over one round (good) and then there will be a couple of extra tests against Fiji,Japan or Tonga , and same in 6n it's been shoertened to a 5 week comp it seems, but there will only be promo relegation for 1 team in each hemisphere. The whole idea of a world league is everyone plays everyone during it, and so using existing matches makes sense. Anyway as I said we will await and see.
@Dan54 said in Six Nations, SANZAAR New tournaments in 2026:
@Mr-Fish They don't have to join any comp, the RC will be played over one round (good) and then there will be a couple of extra tests against Fiji,Japan or Tonga , and same in 6n it's been shoertened to a 5 week comp it seems, but there will only be promo relegation for 1 team in each hemisphere. The whole idea of a world league is everyone plays everyone during it, and so using existing matches makes sense. Anyway as I said we will await and see.
And the Six Nations?
We really don't need to wait and see, they've been pretty clear with what they're doing...
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@Mr-Fish They don't have to join any comp, the RC will be played over one round (good) and then there will be a couple of extra tests against Fiji,Japan or Tonga , and same in 6n it's been shoertened to a 5 week comp it seems, but there will only be promo relegation for 1 team in each hemisphere. The whole idea of a world league is everyone plays everyone during it, and so using existing matches makes sense. Anyway as I said we will await and see.
@Dan54 said in Six Nations, SANZAAR New tournaments in 2026:
@Mr-Fish They don't have to join any comp, the RC will be played over one round (good) and then there will be a couple of extra tests against Fiji,Japan or Tonga , and same in 6n it's been shoertened to a 5 week comp it seems, but there will only be promo relegation for 1 team in each hemisphere. The whole idea of a world league is everyone plays everyone during it, and so using existing matches makes sense. Anyway as I said we will await and see.
What you are describing is adding 2 teams to the TRC in all but name.
Except your 'loose TRC expansion' leaves the promotion-relegation option open for the 'excluded two'.
The whole raison d'etre for this Nation Cup thing is to increase the revenue pie for the ten 6N and TRC unions. Do you think reducing the TRC and replacing with 3 friendlies would achieve this for the Sanzaar 4?
Everything released to the media shows this is all about 6N and TRC status quo, while pooling the July and November tours into a collective monetized comp.
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@Dan54 said in Six Nations, SANZAAR New tournaments in 2026:
@Mr-Fish They don't have to join any comp, the RC will be played over one round (good) and then there will be a couple of extra tests against Fiji,Japan or Tonga , and same in 6n it's been shoertened to a 5 week comp it seems, but there will only be promo relegation for 1 team in each hemisphere. The whole idea of a world league is everyone plays everyone during it, and so using existing matches makes sense. Anyway as I said we will await and see.
And the Six Nations?
We really don't need to wait and see, they've been pretty clear with what they're doing...
@Mr-Fish said in Six Nations, SANZAAR New tournaments in 2026:
@Dan54 said in Six Nations, SANZAAR New tournaments in 2026:
@Mr-Fish They don't have to join any comp, the RC will be played over one round (good) and then there will be a couple of extra tests against Fiji,Japan or Tonga , and same in 6n it's been shoertened to a 5 week comp it seems, but there will only be promo relegation for 1 team in each hemisphere. The whole idea of a world league is everyone plays everyone during it, and so using existing matches makes sense. Anyway as I said we will await and see.
And the Six Nations?
We really don't need to wait and see, they've been pretty clear with what they're doing...
Yes, you are talking known facts. Some others are either spitballing (as I did) or talking wishful interpretations.
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S Stargazer referenced this topic on
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So it's official, pretty much as expected. Closed shop until 2030, then relegation. Interesting points
SANZAAR get to decide who the extras two nations are
The odd number years WR promise more tier cross over matches, will that actually happen? Will that mean more outside Windows matches to make money as eg) abs Vs Portugal not really going to be a money spinner
Women's get a release window, and there is change to men's window not specified
Rwc 27 four more teams, not sure how that is going to work -
There are some positive element to this. But there are some real shitty parts too.
Fiji (and Japan) will get a place at the top table, but the test of the tier 2 nations like Georgia, Samoa & Tonga will be totally shafted. You know how they only get to play about one match a year against tier 1 nations at the moment, and everyone agrees they deserve more? Well, fuck that, they'll be getting pretty much zero now.
They will have regular matches among themselves, which is a positive, but apart from world cups that's it, no more Tier 1 v 2 games. Pull up the drawbridge.
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There are some positive element to this. But there are some real shitty parts too.
Fiji (and Japan) will get a place at the top table, but the test of the tier 2 nations like Georgia, Samoa & Tonga will be totally shafted. You know how they only get to play about one match a year against tier 1 nations at the moment, and everyone agrees they deserve more? Well, fuck that, they'll be getting pretty much zero now.
They will have regular matches among themselves, which is a positive, but apart from world cups that's it, no more Tier 1 v 2 games. Pull up the drawbridge.
Agreed. To me this just seems like a token gesture to justify even more tier1 international rugby.
Money, money, money.
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I think the better way to give the T2 sides more games, is adding midweek games to the schedule. All Blacks already take 35+ players on a Northern tour... could easily add 2-3 extras and add in games vs Portugal and Romania for example. You don't want to be reducing the quantity of tests between the T1 teams for pointless games (which is what they are as a contest) that won't engage the fan, particularly the casual fan.
We all joked about the Qatar Airways Cup, but Twickenham was sold out (?)... if that was NZ v Portugal, it wouldn't even be half full.
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The wording, FYI.
Launch of a bi-annual new international competition from 2026, comprising a top division of 12 teams (Six Nations unions, SANZAAR unions and two further unions to be selected via a process run by SANZAAR), and a second division run by World Rugby of 12 teams with promotion and relegation commencing from 2030. Played in the July and November international release windows
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There are some positive element to this. But there are some real shitty parts too.
Fiji (and Japan) will get a place at the top table, but the test of the tier 2 nations like Georgia, Samoa & Tonga will be totally shafted. You know how they only get to play about one match a year against tier 1 nations at the moment, and everyone agrees they deserve more? Well, fuck that, they'll be getting pretty much zero now.
They will have regular matches among themselves, which is a positive, but apart from world cups that's it, no more Tier 1 v 2 games. Pull up the drawbridge.
@GibbonRib said in Six Nations, SANZAAR New tournaments in 2026:
There are some positive element to this. But there are some real shitty parts too.
Fiji (and Japan) will get a place at the top table, but the test of the tier 2 nations like Georgia, Samoa & Tonga will be totally shafted. You know how they only get to play about one match a year against tier 1 nations at the moment, and everyone agrees they deserve more? Well, fuck that, they'll be getting pretty much zero now.
They will have regular matches among themselves, which is a positive, but apart from world cups that's it, no more Tier 1 v 2 games. Pull up the drawbridge.
The tier one Vs two happen every second year, the odd years. WR say they will get 50% more games with tier 1 then they do now. That's on top of regular even year comp. We'll see if that actually happens. It's going to cost a lot of money for the tier 1, as they're hardly going to sell out huge stadiums versus minnows. I guess there is some money coming from WR to T1 nations to cover that
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In this RWC cycle (2019-2023), Wales has played
Canada
Georgia x 2
FijiShould have played Japan but it was cancelled due to COVID
