Nations Championship Confirmed as 12‑Team North–South Contest Across July and November Windows

Overview

• Format is set for 12 nations — the four SANZAAR teams plus Fiji and Japan against the Six Nations — playing 42 cross‑hemisphere Tests in July and November.
• Each match counts toward separate northern and southern tables, with playoffs and a South 1 versus North 1 decider closing Finals Weekend in late November.
• The competition opens on 4 July with three successive rounds hosted in the southern hemisphere before teams head north for November fixtures.
• Reports differ on the London venue for the November final, with Twickenham and Allianz Stadium both cited, and ticket pre‑sales for Finals Weekend were reported to have opened on Wednesday.
• Early commentary questions competitive integrity, highlighting France’s player‑release issues around the Top 14 final and Fiji scheduling designated “home” fixtures in the UK.