SANZAAR Confirms The Rugby Championship’s Future Until 2029
SANZAAR has ensured the continuity of the Rugby Championship, which will be played in its entirety until 2029. After months of speculation about the future of the tournament, due to the tours planned by South Africa and New Zealand in 2026 and 2030, an agreement has been reached between the four participating nations to guarantee the continuity of the southern hemisphere championship. 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 confirmed that “multi-week international tours” will be held during the August-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. Furthermore, for the first time, a complete Rugby Championship tournament will be played in a World Cup year, with all 12 matches scheduled before the global tournament in Australia in 2027. The calendar also includes the Nations Championship, which will debut in the test period of July next year and in the test period of November. This tournament will feature the four SANZAAR nations, plus Fiji and Japan, against the Six Nations of the northern hemisphere: England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, France and Italy, with a final at Twickenham to determine the dominant nation between both hemispheres.
Morris added that the new calendar is designed to provide fans with the highest level of rugby and world-class action. After listening to what fans, broadcasters and stakeholders want, work was done with the unions to create a bold and dynamic calendar designed to deliver unforgettable moments each year. The future of southern hemisphere rugby is brighter than ever. Member unions have a proud history on the international stage and SANZAAR believes this new calendar will help strengthen this history, while providing fans with unprecedented 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. By collaborating closely with our unions and valued broadcast and commercial partners, we have developed an innovative schedule 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 Tours Series
- October: Bledisloe Cup
- November: Nations Championship
- 2027:
- July/August: The Rugby Championship
- October/November: Rugby World Cup
- 2028:
- July: Nations Championship
- August/September: The Rugby Championship
- November: Nations Championship
- 2029:
- July: Lions tour to New Zealand and incoming tours
- August/September: The Rugby Championship
- November: Autumn Nations Series
- 2030:
- July: Nations Championship
- August/September: International Tours Series
- October: Bledisloe Cup
- November: Nations Championship
