Nations Championship venues confirmed for Southern Series but it comes with a twist
The All Blacks will face France in the opening game of the Nations Championship.
The venues for the Nations Championship matches that will place during July have been confirmed, with this part of the league having been labelled the Southern Series.
However, not all of the opening fixtures will be happening in the southern hemisphere, as Fiji’s ‘home’ games have been scheduled for Cardiff, Liverpool and Edinburgh.
It promises to be a mouth-watering start to this year’s Nations Championship as the strongest international rugby teams, and the best players on the planet, will kick off their tournament campaign, with iconic global venues confirmed to host the games, which span three consecutive weekends and offer a schedule of unmissable clashes.
One Stadium in Christchurch, New Zealand, will be the stage for the first ever Nations Championship fixture, with a heavyweight game between the All Blacks and France. The two teams have built up a fierce rivalry over the years, whilst vying to establish themselves as the dominant force in their respective hemisphere. It will be the first time an international rugby fixture will be hosted at the new state of the art stadium in Christchurch, adding another layer of history to the landmark occasion.
Fiji to host from the UK
“From Ellis Park in Johannesburg, Allianz Stadium in Sydney, Eden Park in Auckland, and the National Stadium in Tokyo, through to neutral venues in the UK, including the new Hill Dickson Stadium in Liverpool, the Nations Championship will visit venues and cities that cement the tournaments status as a global showcase of the best rugby nations and players that the sport has to offer,” read a statement from SANZAAR who went on to explain that Fiji’s ‘home’ matches will take place in the north.
“Neutral venues in the UK have been selected to host the Fiji ‘home’ fixtures, and Japan will host Ireland at a Southern Hemisphere neutral venue, to establish the strongest start to the tournament in its first edition. The schedule also allows more fans access to attend fixtures, whilst balancing team logistics, travel, broadcasting and the stadium infrastructure needed to host elite international rugby fixtures.”
The 12 competing nations, split into the two groups of six teams, representing the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, will each play six fixtures against a different opponent from their rival hemisphere group – three in July (Southern Series) and three in November (Northern Series). Match points are on offer across the July and November chapters of the tournament, which will dictate the table standings per Hemisphere group to create the schedule of fixtures for the Nations Championship Finals Weekend in London.
The Finals Weekend is a totally new concept for rugby union and will deliver three days of double-headers at Allianz Stadium in London, creating a dramatic climax to the tournament. The first-ranked team in the Northern Hemisphere group, and the first-ranked team representing the Southern Hemisphere, will battle to be named the first-ever champion of the new tournament.
Adding to the sporting jeopardy of the Finals Weekend, all teams will be competing to earn points for their group to decide the strongest rugby hemisphere in 2026. Where a team finishes in their respective group table determines who they will face in the Finals Weekend: The first-placed Southern Hemisphere team will face the first-placed Northern Hemisphere team, through to sixth versus sixth, but every fixture matters to every team as they compete for the two titles.
“The Nations Championship Finals Weekend will welcome global fans to one of the sporting capitals of the world. London will add to its enviable list of major sporting occasions with the first ever Finals Weekend, and fans will have unprecedented access to tickets to see the best rugby on the planet, thanks to comprehensive pricing and ticket options available across the three days when the pre-sale and general sale ticketing windows open on the 25th February and 11th March, respectively,” SANZAAR added.
Exciting milestone
Brendan Morris, CEO of SANZAAR said: “The confirmation of the match venues for the Southern Series chapter of the Nations Championship is another exciting and significant milestone for international rugby.
“The Nations Championship internationals, in July and November, now have real meaning for fans with every match counting to an overall tournament outcome. The July Southern Series matches are now locked in and will bring world class rugby to major cities and venues around the world including Buenos Aires, Christchurch, Johannesburg, Sydney, London and Tokyo.
“We are looking to answer the question, ‘Who will rule the world in 2026!’ as the top teams in the world compete for the Nations Championship crown, and we will also determine bragging rights as the Hemispheres Collide and the strongest hemisphere will ultimately be crowned.”
Commenting on the confirmation of venues and cities primed to host the first three weekends of Nations Championship fixtures, Tom Harrison, CEO of Six Nations Rugby added: “The Nations Championship will stand alongside the worlds best sport and entertainment tournaments, and the confirmation of venues hosting fixtures in July highlights the intention to put the best rugby teams and players in the sport in front of global fans, on some of the most iconic stages in world sport.
“Every fixture matters to every team in the Nations Championship, with each result in July pointing towards the Finals Weekend in London this November. The added jeopardy and meaning to each fixture will create hugely compelling entertainment for fans, and drive long-term growth for the sport. This is why we have approached the Finals Weekend ticketing with the commitment to make it accessible to as many fans as possible, so they have every chance to be there to experience the start of an incredible new era for rugby.”
Nations Championship fixtures
Round One
New Zealand v France
Venue: One New Zealand Stadium, Christchurch (30,000) — New national-standard arena; hosts its first All Blacks Test in 2026.
Australia v Ireland
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Sydney (42,500) — 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup venue and confirmed 2032 Olympic football venue. Bruno Mars and Elton John have both performed at the stadium.
Japan v Italy
Venue: Chichibunomiya Stadium, Tokyo (27,188) — 1964 Olympic football venue; hosted HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series (2012–15).
Fiji v Wales
Venue: Cardiff City Stadium (33,280) — Hosted the 2017 UEFA Women’s Champions League Final.
South Africa v England
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg (62,567) — Venue of the 1995 Rugby World Cup Final. The Rolling Stones and Eminem have both performed at the stadium as part of their global tours.
Argentina v Scotland
Venue: Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes, Córdoba (57,000) — 1978 FIFA World Cup host stadium and 2011 Copa América venue.
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Round Two
New Zealand v Italy
Venue: Sky Stadium, Wellington (34,500) — Hosted eight matches at Rugby World Cup 2011, including two quarter-final matches. Ed Sheeran performed at the stadium as part of his tour in 2023.
Australia v France
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane (52,500) — Hosted 2008 & 2017 Rugby League World Cup Finals; set to host Rugby World Cup 2027 matches. The stadium will host rugby sevens and football (soccer) events at the 2032 Olympic Games.
Fiji v England
Venue: Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool (52,769) — Selected UEFA Euro 2028 host venue. Venue for the 2025 Rugby League Ashes.
South Africa v Scotland
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria (51,762) — 2010 FIFA World Cup host stadium.
Argentina v Wales
Venue: Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario (25,286) — 2011 Copa América venue.
Japan v Ireland
Venue: TBC
Round Three
Japan v France
Venue: National Stadium, Tokyo (68,000) — Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games main stadium (ceremonies & athletics).
New Zealand v Ireland
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland (50,000 rugby) — Hosted opening match & semi-final of 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup; hosted 1987 & 2011 Rugby World Cup Finals. Ed Sheeran and Coldplay have hosted concerts at the venue.
Australia v Italy
Venue: HBF Park, Perth (20,500) – Home of Perth Glory FC and the Western Force. HBF Park has hosted a number of global music artists including Harry Styles, Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift.
Fiji v Scotland
Venue: Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh (67,000) — hosted matches of the 1991, 1999 and 2007 Rugby World Cups. Murrayfield is a renowned music venue with touring artists including: Taylor Swift, Oasis, Beyoncé and Harry Styles.
South Africa v Wales
Venue: Hollywood Bets Kings Park, Durban (46,000 regular capacity, 60,000 max capacity) – 1995 Rugby World Cup host venue.
Argentina v England
Venue: Estadio Único Madre de Ciudades, Santiago del Estero (30,000) — Host venue for the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2023.