
Watch the Rugby League World Cup 2026 as the men’s and women’s competitions reach the semi-final stage (Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)The men’s and women’s events have reached the semi-final stage.Watch the Rugby League World Cup, as Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea host the best sides on the …Continue reading » [...]

Watch the Nations Championship 2026, as the best sides on the planet compete for international rugby’s newest title (Juan GASPARINI / AFP via Getty Images)There are loads of ways to watch international rugby’s newest tournament – including several ways to watch for FREE.The first-ever Nations Championship lands in the northern hemisphere this weekend. Six matches are heading your way across Friday, Saturday …Continue reading » [...]

Watch Tonga v Samoa as the two sides look to confirm their places in the Rugby League World Cup semi-finals (Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)The result of this Pool B and C showdown will decide England’s Rugby League World Cup fate.Watch Tonga v Samoa as two sides from the South Pacific look to book their place in the Rugby World …Continue reading » [...]

Watch Australia v Cook Islands as the Kangaroos look to head into the knockout stages with a 100% record (Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)The co-hosts look to secure top spot in Pool A against the Rugby League World Cup minnowsWatch Australia v Cook Islands as the Rugby League World Cup co-hosts and favourites try to make it three wins …Continue reading » [...]

Watch New Zealand v Fiji as the two Pool A sides face off for a spot in the semi-finals (Joe Allison/Getty Images)A place in the semi-finals is at stake for both sides in this Gold Coast clashWatch New Zealand v Fiji as the two southern hemisphere sides look to confirm their place in the Rugby League …Continue reading » [...]

Watch England v Papua New Guinea as the two sides try to keep their slim semi-final hopes alive (Janelle St Pierre/Getty Images)A place in the semi-finals is at stake. Whatever happens in Wollongong, the losers know their tournament is over.Watch England v Papua New Guinea as Brian McDermott’s men play their final Rugby League World Cup pool match knowing …Continue reading » [...]

Watch the WXV Global Series 2026 to see if the Red Roses can return to winning ways (Tim Austen/Getty Images)Everything you need to know to watch the WXV Global Series online, on TV, and from anywhere.Watch the WXV Global Series as 12 of the best sides on the planet compete in a revamped tournament designed …Continue reading » [...]

Watch the United Rugby Championship in the last weekend before the international break (David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile via Getty Images)The best club sides in Ireland, Italy, Scotland, South Africa and Wales compete for the United Rugby Championship title. Here’s how to follow the action...Watch URC live streams as the annual contest between Irish, Italian, Scottish, South African and Welsh sides enters its fifth …Continue reading » [...]

Watch Gallagher PREM live streams as leaders Gloucester take on reigning champions Northampton Saints (David Rogers/Getty Images)It’s the last weekend before the international break in English rugby’s top flight. Here’s how to watch all the action.English rugby’s top flight has got off to a memorable start, with tries galore, no sides undefeated, and every team …Continue reading » [...]

The Nations Championship 2026 resumes on Friday 6 November (David Rogers/Nations Championship via Getty Images)The biggest sides in the northern and southern hemispheres clash in the new international competition. Here’s everything you need to know before it resumes in November...The biggest sides in the northern and southern hemispheres clash in the new international competition that resumes in November. Here’s everything you need to know [...]

Along with the Springboks, the All Blacks are one of the only two unbeaten sides in the new Nations Championship (Dean Purcell/New Zealand Herald via Getty Images)Everything you need to know about the Nations Championship including results, fixtures, competing teams and moreEverything you need to know about the new Nations Championship [...]

Christian Wade has the PREM Rugby try-scoring record in his sights (Stu Forster/Getty Images)The ten most prolific finishers in the history of English rugby’s top flight.Christian Wade has made a blistering start to the Gallagher PREM season, scoring six tries in Newcastle Red Bulls’ first …Continue reading » [...]
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.
Wales head coach Steve Tandy has selected Max Llewellyn alongside Eddie James in midfield to face Japan in the Nations Championship on Saturday. [...]
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell says he is excited by the prospect of another challenging journey as he admits his squad must improve before they can harbour realistic aspirations of winning next year's Rugby World Cup. [...]
Finn Russell is frustrated at questions about when he might retire as the Scotland fly-half sounds refreshed as he prepares for another attempt to end their hoodoo against the All Blacks. [...]
England are the second-best side in the world when they can keep 15 players on the pitch, says Rugby Football Union chief executive Bill Sweeney. [...]
Great Britain sprint star Amy Hunt visited England's training base before Sunday's Nations Championship match against Australia. [...]
Nick Timoney, Craig Casey and Sean Jansen will start for Ireland against Argentina in the Nations Championship on Friday night with Jamison Gibson-Park and Josh van der Flier on the bench at the Aviva Stadium. [...]
What is the Nations Championship, who is winning and who plays who this weekend? [...]
Scrum-half Alex Mitchell has been ruled out of the whole of England's Nations Championship after suffering his fourth hamstring injury of the year. [...]
Wales flanker Jac Morgan believes he has added to his attacking game by moving to Gloucester in the Prem. [...]
Clark Laidlaw, head coach at Super Rugby champions Hurricanes, has made a huge impact in New Zealand and would "welcome a conversation" about taking on the top job in Scotland. [...]
Mike Blair says New Zealand are motivated by their undefeated record against the Scots going into their Murrayfield meeting. [...]
Jack Conan tells the Ireland Rugby Social podcast of Andy Farrell's influence in implementing a cultural shift in camp, his shoulder injury and desire to keep playing while he feels physically and mentally able. [...]
World Rugby has laid out a vision of a safer and more continuous sport, but with a desire to "embrace the contest" around the breakdown and set-piece. [...]
Chris, GRO and Tom bring you their guide to the Nations Championship this November. [...]
Exeter boss Rob Baxter says his side must use the Prem Rugby Cup break asa means to kickstart their league campaign. [...]





