SANZAAR Confirms The Rugby Championship’s Future Until 2029
SANZAAR has secured the continuity of the Rugby Championship, the tournament that will be played in its entirety until 2029. The confirmation comes after months of speculation about the future of the championship, especially due to the tour plans of South Africa and New Zealand in 2026 and 2030. A deal between the four participating nations – Australia, Argentina, New Zealand, and South Africa – guarantees the tournament will be held in the southern hemisphere. Due to the All Blacks’ tour of South Africa in 2026 and the reciprocal tour in 2030, the Rugby Championship will not take place in those years. Instead, SANZAAR has confirmed that “multi-week international tours” will be played during the August-September period. South Africa is expected to tour Argentina and Australia, while the Bledisloe Cup between Australia and New Zealand will be maintained in 2026. An important milestone is that, for the first time, a complete Rugby Championship will be played in a World Cup year. The 12 matches of the tournament will be played before the global tournament 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, plus 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 nation between both hemispheres.
Morris added that the new calendar is designed to offer fans the highest level of rugby and action. “It’s a new dawn for Southern Hemisphere rugby, and we can’t wait for our fans to be part of this exciting journey.” SANZAAR believes this new calendar will strengthen the record of its member unions on the international stage, while offering fans unparalleled excitement and access to the best rugby in the world.“Looking ahead, our joint venture is committed to driving the next chapter of Southern Hemisphere rugby,” said SANZAAR chief Brendan Morris. “By collaborating closely with our unions and valued broadcast and commercial partners, we have developed an innovative calendar designed to deliver exciting rugby experiences and set new benchmarks for the game in the years to come.”
Brendan Morris, SANZAAR chief
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
