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. After months of speculation about the future of the championship, 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. 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 played during the August-September period. South Africa is expected to 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 held 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 July and November of next year. The tournament will feature the four SANZAAR nations, as well as Fiji and Japan, competing against the six Northern Hemisphere nations: England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, France, and Italy. The final will be played at Twickenham to determine the dominant rugby 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 calendar, designed to deliver unforgettable moments every 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 offering fans 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 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: International Tour Series
- October: Bledisloe Cup
- November: Nations Championship
