Following the World Rugby-hosted summit on the worldwide calendar, Six Nations and SANZAAR have now launched particulars on their deliberate joint match from 2026.

Based on a launch from Six Nations, the brand new competitors will happen in present July and November Check home windows with all the Six Nations and SANZAAR sides competing – plus two invitational unions. Additionally they say that World Rugby will create a brand new second-tier competitors, to “facilitate promotion and relegation matches”.

These conferences in London have been attended by representatives from World Rugby, the British & Irish Lions, Six Nations and SANZAAR, plus Worldwide Rugby Gamers (IRP) reps and different unions, in addition to figures from the highest skilled leagues.

Additionally mooted at this meet, in line with studies, is the shortening of the Six Nations by per week.

Nonetheless, any selections made on the summit should be ratified by the World Rugby’s council once they convene in October.

Argentina and New Zealand from the Rugby Championship (Getty Photos)

Six Nations assertion on new match

“Six Nations Rugby and SANZAAR are working in partnership, alongside world rugby stakeholders, to convey to life a brand new worldwide rugby competitors that will probably be performed within the present July and November take a look at home windows.

“The creation of the brand new competitors has been a collective course of from the game, together with World Rugby, Unions, key leagues, competitions, and crucially, the Worldwide Rugby Gamers.

“Set to start in 2026, the brand new elite competitors will function all of the Six Nations Rugby and SANZAAR groups, with two areas reserved for invitational unions to hitch the Southern Hemisphere group. A clear choice course of will probably be managed by SANZAAR, supported by World Rugby and the Worldwide Rugby Gamers, to find out these two invitational unions.

“Owned and operated by Six Nations Rugby and SANZAAR, the elite competitors will happen in alternating years, outdoors of the British & Irish Lions Excursions and Rugby World Cup.

“Concerned at each stage of growing the brand new competitors, has been the Worldwide Rugby Gamers. This connection has been key in supporting the broader conversations across the membership and worldwide calendar going down in parallel, and to make sure participant welfare has remained a elementary precedence in all resolution making.

“To strengthen the event pathway for rising nations, World Rugby will create a second-tier competitors that may function groups from Europe and the remainder of the world, with Six Nations and SANZAAR actively concerned in cementing the hyperlink between the 2 divisions.

“Establishing the 2 competitions will pave the way in which for promotion and relegation matches, contributing in direction of a worthwhile pathway for groups, and can assist ambitions to maintain and develop the worldwide sport.

“The introduction of the brand new elite worldwide competitors is testomony to the robust ambition from all events, motivated by delivering context and a stronger narrative across the July and November home windows, that may genuinely excite gamers and convey new followers to the sport.

“The impression it will have on the sport will probably be to drive its development and long-term sustainability. This runs alongside the work being achieved so as to add better readability and stability to the membership and worldwide calendar; a course of Six Nations Rugby and SANZAAR stay dedicated to assist ship.”

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