SANZAAR, the alliance covering rugby union’s major southern hemisphere nations, has announced that the Rugby Championship men's national teams competition will not be played in 2026 as part of changes to the international calendar for the next five years.

Traditionally played between August and October, the Rugby Championship is contested by South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, and Argentina - with South Africa's Springboks winning this year's edition earlier this month.

But it will not go ahead next year, with the southern hemisphere's leading international competition instead ditched for a season to create space for New Zealand to tour world champions South Africa in a series billed as ‘the Greatest Rivalry’, as well as World Rugby's inaugural Nations Championship.

In 2027, meanwhile, the Rugby Championship will return in an earlier slot in July and August before the Rugby World Cup in Australia - the first time it will be held in the same year as the sport’s flagship tournament.

The competition will then be played in 2028 and 2029 before pausing again in 2030 for an international multi-week tour, played in the August-September window.

SANZAAR said the new-look calendar “reflects the evolving requirements of its member unions as well as broadcasters and fans.” 

The calendar also includes the proposed Nations Championship to be played in 2026, 2028, and 2030.

The new biennial international tournament is set to feature 12 of the world’s top rugby nations, having been set up as a joint venture between the European Six Nations collective (England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France, and Italy) and the SANZAAR unions.

Two more nations will be invited to compete in the tournament, with matches played in July and November every two years. London is expected to host the first edition in 2026.

The tournament will entail a series of group stage games to decide seedings, before the sixth-ranked Six Nations team plays their southern hemisphere counterpart (fifth plays fifth, and so on). A Grand Final will then be held between the top two nations.

The international rugby schedule in the southern hemisphere within the five-year cycle will also include the 2029 Women’s Rugby World Cup in Australia and the 2029 British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand. 
 
Brendan Morris, SANZAAR CEO, has now said: “Looking ahead, our joint venture is committed to driving the next chapter of southern hemisphere rugby. By collaborating closely with our Unions and valued broadcasting and commercial partners, we've developed an innovative calendar designed to deliver thrilling rugby experiences and set new benchmarks for the game in the years to come.”
 
 “This new calendar for southern hemisphere rugby is all about bringing to the fans the highest level of world-class rugby and action. Indeed, after listening to what supporters, broadcasters, and our stakeholders want, we’ve worked with the unions to craft a bold and dynamic schedule.”