2026 Nations Championships

[saulan]

I've not been paying too much attention to this in terms of who has who, but I've just been looking at this now and it looks like there is going to be a lot of chaos in this "Southern Hemisphere" round with all the travelling that appears to be required. I guess this is why venues haven't been confirmed yet. But looking at it we have for the NH teams, their away games are:
England: South Africa, Fiji, Argentina
France: New Zealand, Australia, Japan
Ireland: Australia, Japan, New Zealand
Italy: Japan, New Zealand, Australia
Scotland: Argentina, South Africa, Fiji
Wales: Fiji, Argentina, South Africa

In terms of confirmed venues, the South African, Australian (except the Italy game) and New Zealand games have been confirmed to be in their home countries. Statements seem to suggest that Fiji and Japan games will be played in other SANZAAR countries rather than at home (but this needs confirming), while Argentina games seem to be planned to be played in Argentina... Looking at that schedule I assume Fiji games will be in either South Africa or Argentina. Now it's important to note these games are every 6-7 days...

England, Wales and Scotland seem to have the worst travel requirements looking at this - Three continents in 3 weeks, with notable time zone jumps back and forth (depending on where Fiji is hosted/If it is hybrid in SA and Argentina). The other three, France, Ireland and Italy, seem to just need to go back and forth between Aus and NZ, so should be fine.

If this was flight times alone then fine... but this is big shifts in time zones and comes back to the biggest issue for South Africans in Super Rugby. There were very clear reasons why teams would do tours of specific countries in the Southern Hemisphere historically in this period vs jumping around - and the above highlights the problem.

To be fair though, I am posting this without anything being confirmed on exact host locations, so could be less painful than assumed. Maybe first Fiji game in Argentina and then the remaining two in South Africa? Overall means no one has to jump across the ocean more than once, but Fiji gets the rough end of the stick as a home hosting country (which isn't anything new to be fair)

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

If our Japan game is in Oz it'd be huge from a travel POV. A win for the Japanese union too because the Irish in nearly any city over there would get it to near enough a sell out.

Wales and Scotland are at risk of 0 Ws which is rough, in fact it's the most likely outcome for Wales.

If France take it serious they're probably the best chance of a sweep from a Euro perspective. England have an outside chance and Ireland have an outsider chance.

Argentina will be tough bet in this, first time in decades they've had matches against the best European teams' full squads at home. Atmosphere will be feral.

Still less than excited for this, screams Nations League in football. On the bright side Portugal are the most successful team in that whilst being the sport's biggest World Cup underachievers so we should obviously win.

 

[Toulousain ex French fan]

Take it serious? a game away to NZ one week after the Top14 final, seriously?

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

You could have just told me that the match is the week after the Top 14 Final and France will be sending a weakened squad.

That would have been nice.

 

[Saintjay]

Take it serious? a game away to NZ one week after the Top14 final, seriously?

Know as getting the excuses in early.

 

[OllyM97]

Take it serious? a game away to NZ one week after the Top14 final, seriously?

I’d love one of the Southern Hemisphere sides to send a 3rd string side to Paris for a November test and listen to the French Federation kick up a fuss and squeal about it. A full-strength England playing NZ home and away this year would have been more enjoyable than France sending a sub-standard side down there because they can’t be bothered. It’s pathetic.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

France are the only country running a profitable and self-sustaining domestic league, they dominate European club rugby. They now have a grand slam and championship in 4 years, only stopped from winning all 4 by a generational Ireland team, so it's no longer at the cost of their international team.

This competition was always to prop up nations that can't survive without international rugby (so everyone else). I thought they might give it a go because there's potential of a trophy at the end* of it but I don't really blame them doing it their way and I don't think they'd care if they played a second string side in November, Stade de France would still be a full house.

Shame for fans but I think when tye best run nation from top to bottom in the world aren't buying into something it's more of a sign that the game isn't optimised as a whole.

*They might in future if this thing is a success but I have serious doubts about that.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I’d love one of the Southern Hemisphere sides to send a 3rd string side to Paris for a November test and listen to the French Federation kick up a fuss and squeal about it.

They wouldn't care

 

[Toulousain ex French fan]

I’d love one of the Southern Hemisphere sides to send a 3rd string side to Paris for a November test and listen to the French Federation kick up a fuss and squeal about it. A full-strength England playing NZ home and away this year would have been more enjoyable than France sending a sub-standard side down there because they can’t be bothered. It’s pathetic.

But who would listen to them? No one. Do you think the clubs care about the union kicking a fuss when the FFR has agreed to schedule a game a week after the Top14. Not their problem. They’ll be on holidays!

 

[Quel Carreleur]

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2...-for-england-nations-championship-rugby-union

 

[pagliaccio_euforico]

@Leonormous Boozer is right. If the one country that actually knows how to make rugby work as a business in a sport doesn’t think this is viable, maybe other countries should look to see what they are doing right.

 

[Welsh Exile]

French don’t know how to make rugby work. They have a load of super rich owners that make losses but are happy to do so. That’s not sustainable. They’re just lucky they have loads of rich people willing to spunk money up the wall.

 

[Toulousain ex French fan]

It’s more sustainable than the Welsh regions. Attendance.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

It’s more sustainable than the Welsh regions. Attendance.

It's running at a loss because there's billionaires willing to do it. Cut the salaries by 20% it'd still be the richest league and be profitable. Just not a problem.

Circumstances considered I think France, then Ireland are doing things right in Europe. England's peaks are high but when they're bad, they're far worse than should be possible.

 

[SéniorHuevo]

Nations Cup just announced and it's another competition that Georgia won't give a toss about because their best players are in Top 14 and since they fired their last coach from Tier 1 wins, these games are meaningless.

It's also going to be a problem for Spain post RWC as even more of their first 15/23 are going to be in France. It does seem like the sport is being held back just because Welsh and English Rugby clubs can't live within their means and need fat subsidises from internationals .

 

[Demfad]

Next big competition on the Horizon:

To win NZL, ITA, IRE, WAL, RSA, ARG.

 

[Saintjay]

All home wins.

My excitement level for this is off the charts

 

[Quel Carreleur]

My excitement is... also uncharitable...

 

[Ddanno]

I'm going to watch it, but only out of spite. (And I'm a sucker for tests). Mostly spite though.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I'll watch it, top level rugby is always great.

Won't put too much stock on the Champions though. It'll be like winning the URC or Prem, well done but who are ye trying to impress here?

 

[Welsh Exile]

Just sad to see the 3 match test series go. I guess the lions still exists but I’ll miss those 3 drubbings we get against NZ every 6 years or so.

 

[Demfad]

The Northern Series will hold more excitement. The points tally will be known. For example it is feasible that the last November league match: Eng v NZ and Ire v SA might decide the NH top team who will compete the following week.
So apart from trying to win it, the last match should also be an extra test against top level opponents in a RWC year. I.e. The reward for finishing as high as possible is a better level last test. The Northern series will mean 4 consecutive matches, 3 against top 6 opponents or better one year out from RWC 2027.
For the sake of argument if England/Scotland fail to beat SA then the key match is Argentina. For Ireland and France its Australia.
Two wins in this series is required to have a chance in November.

 

[Demfad]

Just sad to see the 3 match test series go. I guess the lions still exists but I’ll miss those 3 drubbings we get against NZ every 6 years or so.

I think this might suit Wales at the moment. Last match against Australia in November could be to break into 6N top 4 and play Arg/Aus a week later.

 

[Ddanno]

I'll watch it, top level rugby is always great.

Won't put too much stock on the Champions though. It'll be like winning the URC or Prem, well done but who are ye trying to impress here?

It's ok fella there's no QFs your lads will do great

 

[Demfad]

It's ok fella there's no QFs your lads will do great

Are you a professional comedian by any chance? That’s the rugby equivalent of shouting “Run forest run” at a runner!!
(Note QFs in particular have not been Ireland’s failing)

 

[Reiser99]

The Northern Series will hold more excitement. The points tally will be known. For example it is feasible that the last November league match: Eng v NZ and Ire v SA might decide the NH top team who will compete the following week.
So apart from trying to win it, the last match should also be an extra test against top level opponents in a RWC year. I.e. The reward for finishing as high as possible is a better level last test. The Northern series will mean 4 consecutive matches, 3 against top 6 opponents or better one year out from RWC 2027.
For the sake of argument if England/Scotland fail to beat SA then the key match is Argentina. For Ireland and France its Australia.
Two wins in this series is required to have a chance in November.

Bloody hell. You're optimistic thinking England will be in the running.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I didn't realise, until the commentators were paid to wax lyrical about how cool this god awful competition is gonna be, that they've got a stupid hemisphere trophy with teams earning their hemisphere points

Whole thing is so embarrassingly lame - hopefully this is the first, and last, iteration of it

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I didn't realise, until the commentators were paid to wax lyrical about how cool this god awful competition is gonna be, that they've got a stupid hemisphere trophy with teams earning their hemisphere points

Whole thing is so embarrassingly lame - hopefully this is the first, and last, iteration of it

It'll be fun to hear them justify why Ireland/England/France on three wins deserve to be in the final against a 5/6 win South Africa or NZ

 

[OllyM97]

Next big competition on the Horizon:
View attachment 26175
To win NZL, ITA, IRE, WAL, RSA, ARG.

ABs, Italy, Wallabies, Wales, Boks, Pumas.

I’m not really bothered about the competition but I’ll still watch the matches, international rugby is always a good watch regardless of context.

 

[Demfad]

Bloody hell. You're optimistic thinking England will be in the running.

Beat Fiji, Argentina away and Australia and Japan at home and England are most likely in the running come the last league match in November.
If Ireland and France lose to both Australia and NZ away (entirely possible) then its between England and Scotland for best NH team probably.