Nations Championship has already lit up London, 100 days before KO

Nelson’s Column, one of the most iconic statues in London, if not the world, was lit up today to mark the ‘100 days to go’ milestone before the inaugural Nations Championship gets underway.

The team colours and crests of all the 12 competing teams  – Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Fiji and Japan, along with England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales – adorned the major tourist attraction in Trafalgar Square.

London is the end point for the inaugural Nations Championship, rugby’s new cross hemisphere international rugby tournament, and the countdown is now on.

Before Finals Weekend in London, on 27-29 November, teams will play six sets of fixtures – three in the Southern Series in July and three in the North in November.

Total points earned decide the final table standings per group, with the top team in each facing each other to determine the inaugural champion. Matches to determine the other places will also take place on Finals Weekend.

It all kicks off in Christchurch, New Zealand, on July 4, with a blockbuster clash between New Zealand and Six Nations champions France at the 30,000-capacity One New Zealand Stadium. Tickets for the match sold out within four hours of going on sale.

Tickets for the Nations Championship Finals Weekend are now on general sale >>