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 the year 2029. This decision puts an end to speculation about the future of the tournament, especially due to South Africa and New Zealand’s tour plans in 2026 and 2030, which could have affected the participation of Australia and Argentina. Following an agreement between the four nations, the tournament’s celebration in the southern hemisphere is guaranteed. Given the All Blacks’ tour to South Africa in 2026 and the return visit 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 to September period. It is speculated that South Africa could tour 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 complete Rugby Championship tournament will be played in a World Cup year. The 12 matches will take place before the global tournament in Australia in 2027. The calendar also includes the Nations Championship, which will debut in the July test period of next year and in the November test period. The tournament will feature the four SANZAAR nations, plus Fiji and Japan, competing against 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 provide fans with the highest level of rugby and world-class action. After listening to what fans, broadcasters and stakeholders want, work has been done with the unions to create a bold and dynamic program, designed to deliver unforgettable moments each year. The future of rugby in the southern hemisphere looks brighter than ever.“Looking ahead, our joint venture is committed to driving the next chapter of Southern Hemisphere rugby,” said Brendan Morris, SANZAAR chief. “By collaborating closely with our unions and with 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 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: 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: Northern Autumn Series
- 2030:
- July: Nations Championship
- August/September: Series of International Tours
- October: Bledisloe Cup
- November: Nations Championship
