About
The groundbreaking Nations Championship – a landmark joint venture between SANZAAR and Six Nations Rugby to create the new biennial tournament – will see the 12 biggest nations in world rugby colliding in a competitive new tournament that will reshape the future of the global game. The SANZAAR nations – South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, and Argentina – plus invitational teams Japan and Fiji, will represent the Southern Hemisphere in the new competition, played in the two existing international windows in July and November, against the Six Nations teams, England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales. Following the six rounds, the Nations Championship will culminate in a first-of-its-kind Finals Weekend, which will be hosted at the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham in London in November 2026.
The history
Australia
04 Jul | Venue TBD
12:00
Ireland
Argentina
04 Jul | Venue TBD
12:00
Scotland
Springboks
04 Jul | Ellis Park, Johannesburg
17:40
England
Vodacom United Rugby Championship
Bulls and Sharks shine in Vodacom URC derbiesThe Vodacom Bulls and Hollywoodbets Sharks showed true grit in a thrilling round of Vodacom United Rugby Championship derbies on Saturday to walk away with crucial victories against the Lions and DHL Stormers, which not only proved that they could be finding their form at the right time, but it also gave them a handy nudge on the standings.
Vodacom United Rugby Championship
Local derbies set to grip Vodacom URC fansSouth Africa’s die-hard rugby fans will be glued to their seats on Saturday as the four domestic franchises go head-to-head in gripping local derbies in round 11 of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship, which could have a big impact on the teams’ log standings.
Tournament news
SA Rugby confirms bumper 2026 domestic scheduleSA Rugby has announced a bumper domestic competition schedule for senior and junior teams for 2026, which kicks off with a rebranded Pick n Pay Women’s Super League 1 in February, while dates for the Carling Currie Cup, the SA Cup, and the FNB Youth Weeks have been locked in.
Vodacom United Rugby Championship
Sharks, Bulls and Lions show fight as Stormers suffer first defeatThe DHL Stormers’ unbeaten run and flawless home track record in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship came to a grinding halt on Saturday, as the Hollywoodbets Sharks stunned them with a fine display of rugby in Cape Town, while the Vodacom Bulls registered a valuable away win in Scotland, and the Lions were forced to settle for a draw against in Wales in what proved to be a fair weekend for SA’s teams.
Vodacom United Rugby Championship
SA teams seek to build on Euro form in VURCSouth Africa’s four franchises will look to build on their form in the two European competitions last week when they return to Vodacom United Rugby Championship action this weekend, where the race for playoff spots will begin to intensify significantly as the pool stages pass the halfway mark.
