Rugby World
Where next for Champ Rugby? As the PREM enters its franchise era, has England’s second tier been cut away for good?

Has the Champ been chumped? (Rugby World)With promotion and relegation scrapped and the Gallagher PREM ringfenced, what does the future hold for England’s Champ Rugby clubs?With promotion and relegation scrapped and the Gallagher PREM ringfenced, what does the future hold for England’s Champ Rugby clubs? [...]

“Eight reasons why I think the new Nations Championships will actually be a success” Paul Williams on how rugby’s new tournament could transform the sport…

The Nations Championship could transform international rugby (Getty Images)The Nations Championship is exactly what international rugby needs and here are eight reasons that back up my claim...The Nations Championship is exactly what international rugby needs and here are eight reasons that back up my claim [...]

How to watch Nations Championship 2026: Official broadcasters, TV & streaming guide

Watch the Nations Championship 2026, as New Zealand and France kick off international rugby’s newest tournament (Sanka Vidanagama / AFP via Getty Images)There are loads of ways to watch international rugby’s newest tournament this summer – including several ways to watch for FREE.Rugby’s newest international competition kicks off this weekend, and there are plenty of ways to watch the Nations Championship wherever …Continue reading » [...]

Nations Championship 2026: Fixtures, TV channels and all you need to know about the new biennial international rugby competition

The Nations Championships starts on Saturday 4 July (Getty Images)Everything you need to know about the new Nations Championship including fixtures, format, competing teams and moreEverything you need to know about the new Nations Championship [...]

Confused by rugby’s newest international rugby tournament? Here’s all your Nations Championship questions answered

The Nations Championship has a blockbuster opening weekend, including South Africa v England (ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)The biggest sides in the northern and southern hemispheres clash in this new international competition starting on Saturday 4 July. Here’s everything you need to know...The Nations Championship brings together the rugby giants of the Six Nations and the Nations Championship – along with Fiji …Continue reading » [...]

Away from home but still want to catch the rugby? Watch this summer’s Nations Championship matches securely with Surfshark

England gather after their defeat during the Guinness Six Nations 2026 match between France and England at Stade de France on March 14, 2026 in Paris, France. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)Using a quality VPN can improve your online security when watching the rugby action away from home.Using a quality VPN can improve your online security when watching the rugby action away from home. [...]

Download your free Nations Championship wall chart  here!

Nations Championship wall chart 2026 (Rugby World)All the fixtures across Summer and Autumn for the inaugural Nations Championships including start times and stadiums for putting up at home or in the office...All the fixtures across Summer and Autumn for the inaugural Nations Championships including start times and stadiums for putting up at home or in the office [...]

Top 14 Final 2026 live streams: How to watch Toulouse v Montpellier from anywhere in the world

Watch Toulouse v Montpellier to see if Jack Willis’s side can make it four Top 14 titles in a row (Matthieu RONDEL / AFP via Getty Images)Can Toulouse make it four Top 14 titles in a row at the Stade de France as they face Challenge Cup champions Montpellier?Watch the Top 14 Final 2026, as reigning champions Toulouse take on this season’s surprise package, Montpellier. – Date: Saturday …Continue reading » [...]

“In a game of best attack vs best defence, it will be Saracens’ go-forward that will come out on top.” Saracens v Trailfinders PWR final predictions

Marlie Packer celebrates teh semi-final win (Getty Images)Who will be victiorious on Sunday in the PWR final between Saracens and Trailfinders? Here's all you need to know.Who will be victiorious on Sunday in the PWR final? Here's all you need to know. [...]

How to watch Barbarians v Wales for free: Live streams, TV channels for today’s Twickenham double-header

The last time George North played in this fixture he was representing Wales (Ian Cook - CameraSport via Getty Images)Wales legend George North takes to the field for the final time – though he’s not playing for Wales...Watch Barbarians v Wales as the Welsh men’s and women’s sides face the legendary invitational side in a double-header at …Continue reading » [...]

“Yes, Montpellier are the form side but they have little chance against the league-dominating veterans of Toulouse: Toulouse vs Montpellier Top 14 final predictions

Toulouse face Montpellier in the Top 14 final. (Photo by Matthieu RONDEL / AFP via Getty Images)The French top-flight will be decided this weekend as Toulouse face Montpellier but who will come out on top?The French top-flight will be decided this weekend but who will come out on top? [...]

Women’s British & Irish Lions Tour to New Zealand: All you need to know about the inaugural tour including fixtures, squads and history

Jo Yapp poses for a photograph during a British & Irish Lions Media Conference (Getty Images)The Women's British & Irish Lions tour kicks off in 2027 but where will it be held and when? Find out all the information here.The women's Lions tour kicks off in 2027 but where will it be held and when? Find out here. [...]

Australia 2027

QUALIFICATION PROCESS

BIG 12 AUTOMATIC SPOTS
> As hosts Australia qualify automatically for the 2027 tournament with another 11 teams gaining automatic qualification by finishing in the top three positions in their pools in the 2023 World Cup. Those teams are: South Africa, New Zealand, England, Argentina, Ireland, France, Wales, Fiji, Scotland, Italy and Japan. The remaining 12 spots in the 2027 expanded 24-team format will be allocated through teams competing in a global qualification process.

Four of those spots have already gone to the semi-finalists in the Rugby Rurope Championship, with semi-finalists Georgia, Spain, Portugal and Romania all qualifying for Australia 2027. The winner of the fifth-place play-off will earn a ticket to the Final Qualification Tournament in November, when one place in Australia 2027 will go to the winner of the tournament.

EUROPE – 4 TEAMS
Qualification matches: January-March 2025
> The four teams that reach the semi-finals of the Rugby Europe Championship 2025 will qualify directly for Australia 2027. Nations involved: Belgium, Georgia, Germany, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Spain and Switzerland.
The winner of the fifth-place play-off will secure their ticket to the Final Qualification Tournament (see below).

ASIA – 1 TEAM
Qualification matches: June-July 2025
> The Asia Rugby Championship 2025 winners will qualify directly for Australia 2027.
Nations involved: Hong Kong China, Korea, Malaysia and United Arab Emirates.
The runner-up in the tournament will progress to the Asia/Africa Play-off (see below).

AFRICA – 1 TEAM
Qualification matches: July 2025
> The Rugby Africa Cup 2025 champions will qualify directly for Australia 2027. Nations involved: Algeria, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Namibia, Senegal, Uganda and Zimbabwe. The runner-up in the tournament will progress to the Asia/Africa Play-off (see below).

SOUTH AMERICA – 1 TEAM
Qualification matches: July-September 2025
> The Sudamerica Rugby Championship 2025 winners will secure their place at Australia 2027, with the runner-up qualifying for the South America/Pacific Play-off (see below) and the third-placed team joining the line-up for the Final Qualification Tournament (see below). Nations involved: Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay.

PACIFIC – 3 TEAMS
Qualification matches: August-September 2025
> The top three teams in the Pacific Nations Cup 2025 (other than already-qualified Fiji and Japan) will qualify for Australia 2027. The sixth-placed team will join the South America/Pacific Play-off (see below). Nations involved: Canada, Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Tonga and the United States.

SOUTH AMERICA/PACIFIC PLAY-OFF – 1 TEAM
Qualification matches: September 2025
> A home-and-away play-off between the runner-up and the team finishing sixth in the Pacific Nations Cup. The winner qualifies for Australia 2027, while the loser will join the Final Qualification Tournament (see below).

ASIA/AFRICA PLAY-OFF
Qualification matches: September 2025
> The Rugby Africa Cup 2025 runner-up will play the Asia Rugby Championship runner-up in a home-and-away play-off. The winner qualifies for the Final Qualification Tournament (see below).

FINAL QUALIFICATION TOURNAMENT – 1 TEAM
Qualification matches: November 2025
> The final qualification tournament will comprise one pool of four teams, playing in a round-robin format with the winner - on competition points - qualifying for Australia 2027. The four teams will comprise the Sudamerica Rugby Championship 2025 third-place team; the South America/Pacific Play-off loser; the Rugby Europe Championship 2025 fifth-placed team; and the Africa/Asia Play-off winner.

The full Australia 2027 qualifying process explained

1 October-13 November 2027

days
4
5
4
hours
0
4
minutes
3
4
seconds
4
1

Categories

BBC

As Wales take on Fiji in the Nations Championship in Cardiff on Saturday, BBC Sport looks back at six iconic moments in the two nations' rivalry. [...]

Will a win against double world champions South Africa in their spiritual home of Ellis Park in Johannesburg, a place where England haven't won in 54 years, revitalise Steve Borthwick's England regime? [...]

George Furbank will make his first England appearance in nearly two years in Saturday's Nations Championship opener against South Africa in Johannesburg. [...]

Former Wales and Lions centre Ray Gravell to be inducted into Welsh Sports Hall of Fame. [...]

Finn Russell will not feature for Scotland in their opening Nations Championship match of the summer series against Argentina, while Jonny Gray makes his return after missing this year's Six Nations. [...]

Head coach Steve Tandy says he is glad the latest dispute between Wales players and the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has been resolved. [...]

England captain Jamie George is on the pod and we chat to Springbok fly-half Manie Libbok [...]

Outgoing Australia head coach Joe Schmidt insists he has no plans to prolong his international coaching career and says a return to Leinster is not an option for him "at the moment". [...]

England score 10 tries to beat the United States and set up a Pool C decider against Argentina in the Under-20 Junior World Championship in Georgia. [...]

Wales head coach Steve Tandy has made six changes for the Nations Championship opener from the side that defeated Barbarians. [...]

Sam Prendergast's strong end to the season with Leinster earns him a recall to the Ireland starting team for Saturday's Nations Championship opener against Australia in Sydney. [...]

Exeter Chiefs CEO is not convinced enough fans will travel to neutral venues for Prem Rugby's semi-finals. [...]

Leinster confirm the return of Ireland international Joey Carbery before the 2026-27 season. [...]

Northampton and Bath will compete for points in the same tough Champions Cup pool next season, having been drawn alongside the Pretoria-based Bulls and Top 14 runners-up Montpellier, while Leicester will face Leinster, Bristol against Bordeaux-Begles, and Saracens and Exeter are in the same group. [...]

England will be ideally prepared for the unique challenge of playing at altitude against world champions South Africa on Saturday, says coach Sir Kevin Sinfield. [...]