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Nations Championship month to offer World Cup clues
The November Nations Championship will crown its first winner while giving teams a final chance to assess their form against opponents from the other hemisphere before next year’s Rugby World Cup. Three weekends of tests across Europe lead into a finals weekend at Twickenham, where all 12 sides will play for their final positions.
The teams are split into northern and southern sections, with each side playing six matches across July and November. South Africa narrowly lead New Zealand in the south, while France are one point ahead of Scotland and two ahead of England and Ireland in the north. Australia face England on Sunday after losing twice to New Zealand, and the World Cup will take place in Australia from 1 October to 13 November next year.
In short
- The inaugural Nations Championship winner will be decided in November.
- France narrowly lead the northern section.
- Teams get a final test of form before the World Cup.
Explained simply
The Nations Championship is a rugby union competition bringing together 12 national teams from the northern and southern hemispheres. Each team plays six matches across July and November, with results used to decide their final positions.
The tournament gives teams a chance to face opponents from the other hemisphere before the Rugby World Cup, held in Australia next year. The World Cup is the sport’s main international competition, and the Nations Championship matches can help teams assess their form against a wider range of rivals.