Schmidt will lead the Wallabies in the 2026 Nations Championship

The Wallabies will begin their participation in the inaugural Nations Championship against Ireland, a team that defeated them 46-19 in Dublin. This defeat was the sixth in seven matches for the Australians. Although they will have time to prepare, as the event will launch in July 2026, they will remain under the direction of Joe Schmidt, unless Rugby Australia changes its mind. Les Kiss, coach of the Reds, will not take over until the end of that month. Schmidt will also be in charge of the matches against France, whom the Wallabies face this weekend, and Italy, who defeated them earlier this month. Despite the unfavorable results since the Wallabies surprised South Africa in August, with only two wins in eight matches, Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh has ruled out any anticipated changes in leadership.

I have no indication to the contrary.

Phil Waugh

Waugh stated that they are aware of the external pressure and are ensuring they provide adequate support to Schmidt, maintaining continuity and consistency in the environment, with Schmidt at the helm until the end of the Nations Championship in July. In November 2026, Australia will undertake another “Autumn Internationals” tour, visiting England, Scotland, and Wales, but with the addition of the Nations Championship competition. At that point, they will have played against the six teams from the “northern hemisphere”, as well as the other five participating “southern hemisphere” nations (New Zealand, South Africa, Argentina, Fiji, Japan). The classifications will be made separately, with each team facing its equivalent at the end of the final weekend in Twickenham at the end of November. The results will count towards a North versus South score, as well as determining the world champion.

The new competition, which will be played every two years in the years without a World Cup or a British and Irish Lions tour, will give context to the matches between teams from the northern and southern hemispheres in the July and November windows. It is expected to generate millions of dollars in ticket sales, sponsorships, and media rights, boosting the sport and helping to combat the threat of the rebel event R360. Tom Harrison, CEO of Six Nations Rugby, said the competition represents a “tectonic shift in the sport” and “has the power to redefine the future of rugby”.

The strongest rugby nations have collaborated with a clear vision to grow the game, challenging traditional ways of operating to create a tournament structure with genuine global relevance, which will unlock the true value of the sport.

Tom Harrison

In recognition of logistical challenges and greater earning opportunities elsewhere, Fiji will play its home matches elsewhere. They are expected to face England in South Africa and Wales and Scotland in the UK. To accommodate the event, and the series of matches between the All Blacks and the Springboks next year, the Rugby Championship will not be played in 2026. In addition to the Nations Championship calendar, World Rugby announced a second-tier competition, the Nations Cup, which will also feature 12 teams and be played simultaneously. They are already qualified for the Nations Cup: Canada, Chile, Georgia, Hong Kong, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Tonga, Uruguay, United States and Zimbabwe, with the twelfth team to be determined between Belgium and Samoa.