Nations Championship Summer Standings and Results

July Fixtures Overview

The opening weekend on 6 July saw New Zealand edge France 34‑32, while Japan dismantled Italy 27‑10. Australia fell short against Ireland 31‑33, and Fiji posted a 24‑39 win over Wales. South Africa dominated England 45‑21, and Argentina secured a hard‑fought 38‑47 victory over Scotland.

Two weeks later, on 11 July, New Zealand continued their run with a 47‑17 demolition of Italy. France returned to winning ways by beating Australia 26‑42, while Japan fell to Ireland 20‑36. England tore through Fiji 8‑73, South Africa edged Scotland 42‑28, and Argentina closed the weekend with a 35‑21 win over Wales.

The final July weekend on 18 July featured New Zealand’s 40‑21 success over Ireland and France’s 15‑42 triumph against Japan. Australia crushed Italy 57‑10, and Fiji gave Scotland a competitive 17‑33 loss. South Africa recorded a historic 43‑0 shutout of Wales, while Argentina edged England 24‑31.

How the Nations Championship Works

The tournament pairs the Six Nations sides—England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France and Italy—with southern‑hemisphere giants South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina, plus invited Fiji and Japan. Even though Japan sits north of the equator, organisers keep it in the southern group for brand consistency.

Each team faces every opponent from the opposite hemisphere once, with three fixtures staged in July and a matching set in November. Results inside each hemisphere create a ranking from first to sixth, setting up a clear path to the playoffs.

The top‑ranked northern and southern teams meet in a decisive final at Twickenham in late November. Lower‑placed sides also clash across three play‑off days, earning points toward a Ryder‑Cup‑style hemisphere title, with the top‑pair match worth double points. The champion is crowned after the final, while the hemisphere points race determines an additional winner.

Autumn Fixtures and Playoff Schedule

Friday, 6 November opens the campaign when Ireland welcomes Argentina at 20:10 GMT. This match marks the first encounter between the two northern‑hemisphere heavyweights of the competition. The fixture sets the tone for what promises to be a competitive series of six home‑and‑away games.

Saturday, 7 November features four contests. Italy hosts South Africa at 11:40 GMT, Scotland meets New Zealand at 14:10 GMT, Wales plays Japan at 16:40 GMT, and France welcomes Fiji at 20:10 GMT. Each of these pairings highlights the blend of northern and southern rugby power.

Sunday, 8 November follows with England facing Australia at 15:10 GMT. The clash between two southern‑hemisphere sides provides a preview of the rivalry that will intensify later in the season. Meanwhile, fans can anticipate a high‑scoring battle as both teams look to assert dominance early in the series.

Friday, 13 November brings France against South Africa at 20:10 GMT. This rematch from the July series carries added weight as both sides seek to prove their superiority. The match also serves as a platform for emerging talents to shine on the international stage.

Saturday, 14 November packs four matches. Italy meets Argentina (11:40 GMT), Wales takes on New Zealand (14:10 GMT), England faces Japan (16:40 GMT), and Ireland hosts Fiji (20:10 GMT). The day’s schedule showcases the depth of competition across the northern and southern hemispheres.

Sunday, 15 November includes Scotland versus Australia at 15:10 GMT. This encounter highlights the strategic differences between the two styles of play. Fans can expect a tightly contested battle as both sides aim to secure key points for their hemisphere rankings.

Saturday, 21 November completes the round with England versus New Zealand (14:10 GMT), Scotland vs Japan (14:10 GMT), Ireland vs South Africa (16:40 GMT), Italy vs Fiji (16:40 GMT), France vs Argentina (20:10 GMT), and Wales vs Australia (20:10 GMT). The final day of the autumn series gathers all six fixtures, culminating in a series of decisive matchups.

Finals Weekend Overview

Nov 27 brings the sixth‑place clash between the lowest‑ranked northern and southern teams at 16:40 GMT, followed by the northern and southern third‑place match at 20:10 GMT. These early contests set the stage for the higher‑stakes games later in the weekend.

Nov 28 continues with a fifth‑place showdown at 13:10 GMT and the second‑place derby at 16:40 GMT. The second‑place match is particularly notable as it often determines which hemisphere secures the critical fourth point.

Nov 29 ends the tournament with the fourth‑place battle at 13:10 GMT and the coveted final between the top‑ranked north and south at 16:40 GMT. The final promises the highest level of drama, as the winner claims the inaugural Nations Championship title.