a new competition will bring together the best nations in Europe and the southern hemisphere from 2026

Like football with the League of Nations, rugby will see its international calendar evolve. From 2026, a new competition, made up of two divisions, will be organized in July and November, replacing the summer and autumn tours. The announcement was made on Saturday July 1 by Six Nations Rugby (the organizing company of the Six Nations Tournament), in collaboration with Sanzaar, the consortium bringing together the South African, New Zealand, Australian and Argentine federations.

All the selections of the Six Nations Tournament, including the XV of France, will participate, as will the four major nations of the southern hemisphere, namely New Zealand, South Africa, Australia and the United States. ‘Argentina. Two others will also be invited “to join the Southern Hemisphere group”, according to the press release, and allow to establish a first division of twelve teams. The second division, meanwhile, will be made up of other nations from Europe and the southern hemisphere, all determined by World Rugby, the international federation “in order to facilitate promotion and relegation matches”the statement said.

Players informed and “involved” in the decision

If the calendar is often controversial in relation to the too many matches played during the year, the competition has been validated by international players, visibly consulted. “International Rugby Players have been involved at every stage of the development of this new competition, specifies the Six Nations Rugby in its press release. This collaboration has been one of the keys to fueling conversations around the club and international calendars that run parallel, and to ensure that player welfare remains the fundamental priority in all decision-making.”