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 on Saturday, marking their sixth loss in seven matches. They will have a long preparation period, as the event will launch in July 2026. However, unless Rugby Australia changes its plans, Joe Schmidt will remain in charge, with Les Kiss, coach of the Reds, taking over until the end of that month. Therefore, Schmidt will also oversee the matches against France, against whom the Wallabies will play this weekend, and Italy, who defeated them earlier this month. Despite the coach’s 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 possibility of an early transition to Kiss.

I have no indication to the contrary.

Phil Waugh, CEO of Rugby Australia

Waugh added that they are aware of the work and external pressures and need to ensure adequate support for Schmidt, believing they are achieving this. They will continue to provide that level of continuity and consistency in the environment, with Joe leading until the end of the Nations Championship at the end of July. In November 2026, Australia will undertake what will be another “autumn international matches” tour, visiting England, Scotland and Wales, but with the added competitive advantage of being part of the Nations Championship. Then, they will have played against the six teams considered from the “northern hemisphere”, as well as the other five nations from the “southern hemisphere” involved (New Zealand, South Africa, Argentina, Fiji, Japan, the latter designated as “southern hemisphere” despite being geographically north of the equator). North and South will be classified into separate tables, with each team facing its equivalent at the Finals Weekend at Twickenham at the end of November. The results will count towards a North versus South score, as well as determining an overall champion.

The new competition, which will be played every two years in years without a World Cup or British and Irish Lions tour, will provide context to the numerous test matches between teams from the northern and southern hemispheres in the existing July and November windows. More importantly, it is expected to generate millions of dollars in ticket sales, sponsorships, and media rights, which will boost the sport and help combat the threat of the rebel event R360. Tom Harrison, CEO of Six Nations Rugby, stated that the competition marks 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, CEO of Six Nations Rugby

In recognition of logistical challenges and greater earning opportunities elsewhere, Fiji will play their home matches elsewhere. They will face England in South Africa and Wales and Scotland in the UK. To accommodate the event, and the series of recently announced tests between the All Blacks and the Springboks next year, the Rugby Championship will not be played in 2026. In addition to the launch of the Nations Championship calendar, World Rugby also announced on Monday a second-tier competition, the Nations Cup. That competition will once again have 12 teams and will be played simultaneously. There are no immediate prospects of promotion and relegation between the levels. They are already qualified for the Nations Cup: Canada, Chile, Georgia, Hong Kong, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Tonga, Uruguay, United States and Zimbabwe, and the twelfth team will be Belgium or Samoa.