Rugby Championship: SANZAAR Confirms Future Until 2029, New Schedule Revealed

SANZAAR Confirms the Future of the Rugby Championship until 2029

SANZAAR has ensured the continuity of the Rugby Championship, the tournament that will extend until 2029. After months of uncertainty about the future of the championship, due to South Africa and New Zealand’s plans to tour in 2026 and 2030, an agreement has been reached between the four participating nations to guarantee the celebration of the tournament in the southern hemisphere. Due to the All Blacks’ tour of South Africa in 2026 and the return tour in 2030, the Rugby Championship will not take place in those years. Instead, SANZAAR confirmed that “multi-week international tours” will be held during the August to September period. It is speculated that South Africa could visit Argentina and Australia, while the Bledisloe Cup will continue to be contested between Australia and New Zealand in 2026. An important milestone is that, for the first time, a full Rugby Championship will be held in a World Cup year. The 12 matches of the tournament will be played before the global event in Australia in 2027. The calendar also includes the Nations Championship, which will debut in July and November of next year. This tournament will feature the four SANZAAR nations, along with Fiji and Japan, facing the Six Nations of the northern hemisphere: England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, France, and Italy. The final will be played at Twickenham to determine the dominant rugby nation between both hemispheres.

The head of SANZAAR, Brendan Morris, stated: “Looking ahead, our joint venture is committed to driving the next chapter of rugby in the southern hemisphere. By working closely with our unions and with our valuable broadcasting and commercial partners, we have developed an innovative calendar designed to deliver exciting rugby experiences and set new benchmarks for the game in the coming years.”

“This new calendar for rugby in the southern hemisphere is about offering fans the highest level of rugby and world-class action. In fact, after listening to what the fans, broadcasters and our stakeholders want, we have worked with the Unions to create a bold and dynamic program designed to deliver unforgettable moments every year.”

Brendan Morris, Head of SANZAAR

“It’s a new dawn for rugby in the southern hemisphere, and we are eager for our fans to be part of this exciting journey. The future of rugby in the southern hemisphere is brighter than ever. Our member unions have a proud history on the international stage and SANZAAR believes that this new calendar will help strengthen this record, while offering fans unparalleled excitement and access to the best rugby in the world.”

SANZAAR Calendar 2026-2030

• 2026:
• July: Nations Championship
• August/September: International Tour Series
• October: Bledisloe Cup
• November: Nations Championship

• 2027:
• July/August: The Rugby Championship
• October/November: Men’s Rugby World Cup

• 2028:
• July: Nations Championship
• August/September: The Rugby Championship
• November: Nations Championship

• 2029:
• July: Lions tour to New Zealand & inbound tours
• August/September: The Rugby Championship
• November: Northern Autumn Series

• 2030:
• July: Nations Championship
• August/September: International Tour Series
• October: Bledisloe Cup
• November: Nations Championship