SANZAAR has confirmed the future of the Rugby Championship, ensuring the continuity of the tournament until 2029.
After months of uncertainty, especially due to the tour plans of South Africa and New Zealand in 2026 and 2030, an agreement has been reached between the four participating nations to maintain the southern hemisphere championship.
Due to the All Blacks’ tour of South Africa in 2026, and the corresponding one 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.
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 complete Rugby Championship tournament will be held in a World Cup year. The 12 matches 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, thus determining the dominant rugby nation between both hemispheres.
“Looking ahead, our joint venture is committed to driving the next chapter of Southern Hemisphere rugby,” stated Brendan Morris, SANZAAR chief. “By collaborating closely with our unions and valued broadcasting 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
“This new calendar for southern hemisphere rugby is about offering fans the highest level of rugby and world-class action. In fact, after listening to what 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 Southern Hemisphere rugby, and we are eager for our fans to be part of this exciting journey. The future of Southern Hemisphere rugby 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 unprecedented excitement and access to the best rugby in the world.”
Brendan Morris, head of SANZAAR
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
