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International

'Fans want to know': All Blacks boss on Nations Championship fixtures

Josh Raisey

165 days ago

Beauden Barrett and Scott Robertson, Head Coach of New Zealand, react following the team's defeat during the Quilter Nations Series 2025 rugby international match between England and New Zealand at Allianz Stadium on November 15, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

New Zealand Rugby CEO Mark Robinson has said that fans will finally find out “who the best team is between World Cups,” after the schedule for the 2026 Nations Championship was announced.

The All Blacks will host France, Italy and Ireland next July to start their Nations Championship Southern Series, which will be part of a 13-Test year for the side.

They will conclude their Nations Championship campaign with the Northern Series, where they will travel to take on Scotland, Wales and lastly England, who recently defeated Scott Robertson’s side 33-19 at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium.

Spain anthem – 1999 Rugby World Cup | RPTV

Spain made a historic first ever Men’s Rugby World Cup appearance in 1999 when they faced Uruguay. This weekend you can watch them take on England A, live and for free on RugbyPassTV.

Spain anthem – 1999 Rugby World Cup | RPTV

Spain made a historic first ever Men’s Rugby World Cup appearance in 1999 when they faced Uruguay. This weekend you can watch them take on England A, live and for free on RugbyPassTV.

Following those three fixtures, they will take part in the Nations Championship finals weekend between November 27-29 at Twickenham, which will feature all 12 teams in six play-off matches.

Robertson is relishing the challenge that the new competition brings, saying it now adds “extra significance” to the clashes with the Northern Hemisphere.

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“It’s a unique season when you consider all the elements, including the tours we have ahead of us and the chance to host France, Italy, Ireland and Australia in the same year,” he said after the fixtures were announced.

“Each Test we play against our Northern Hemisphere rivals will take on extra significance with Nations Championship competition points on the line as teams vie for a place in the inaugural Northern Hemisphere vs Southern Hemisphere Final. There is a lot for the team and fans to get excited about in this schedule.”

CEO Robinson added: “We’re entering a new era for international rugby and this is an incredible schedule for players and fans when you consider the Nations Championship, RGR and a Bledisloe Cup series spread across five months. Fans want to know who the best team is between World Cups, and the Nations Championship will deliver a champion.

“On the home front we are really pleased to host France, Italy and Ireland to start the Nations Championship era and to continue the home and away Bledisloe Cup rivalry. Every team will be out to put points on the tournament leaderboard early in the season with the goal of playing in the first Nations Championship final.”

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Comments

12 Comments

JW 164 days ago

“who the best team is between World Cups,”

Not really. It doesn’t include 6N or TRC matches, and hosts a ‘one off’ game. Things antagonistic of finding the best side.

But hey, it makes more money than top of the table after 11 games!

Bazzallina 164 days ago

So 3 games Ireland Italy France 2 games Oz 8 games the tour one game Boks Twickers then 3 more England Scotland Wales then 1 more our “final” ( quite like this ) that’s 18 games right ? what an op for other guys to get a go something I think heaps of us want to see and they will basically have to do can’t wait last week sucked but player depth is great

Andrew Nichols 164 days ago

Easy. It wont be us.

JW 164 days ago

Should have won TRC this year so anything is possible still…

johnz 165 days ago

I think we know that already, and it’s not New Zealand, Mark Robinson. It’s the country you were instrumental in helping push out of Super Rugby towards Europe, SA. They’re clearly head and shoulders above the rest. We’re far more interested in whether we will finally get a decent CEO once you depart.

JW 164 days ago

Have to admit SRP has been a better product since.

I’d rather have this SA than the one pre 2020, but it sure would be nice to have what I reckon will be full strength SA’n sides withing 10 years, in SR again.

SB 165 days ago

All Black fans want to know why the team hasn’t improved in 2 seasons under Scott Robertson despite a squad full of experienced players, a club competition designed purely for the benefit of the national team and the ability to train as well as play for months on end to get stronger as a team.

JPM 165 days ago

Fans will know nothing as long as this schedule is not reviewed. France playing NZ in NZ one week after the Top 14 final. Exactly the same frustrating debate as this year. Is it so complicated to schedule the NZ-France during the third week so that it is meaningful?

Furthermore NH teams traveling all around the world in July whilst SH teams play across only 2 timezones in November.

JW 164 days ago

But then you might get some other game in it’s place that is even more meaningful!

There is no doctoring of the fixtures obviously, I’m OK with that as sometimes they stuff it up (say vAustralia turns out to be a better game come time) and do worse concoctions.

TokoRFC 165 days ago

Funny seeing Europeans realise the southern hemisphere is quite big, it is in fact (checks notes) half the globe!

No I’m kidding, you’re right, the SH teams being so spread apart has been a nightmare for Super Rugby and the SANZAAR comps for years, whereas the 6 nations has held strong as it’s so much better for fans and players to be so close.

I don’t see how the time zones and travel won’t be the death of this as well.

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