World Rugby has confirmed that the new Nations Cup will kick off in July 2026, a tournament created to provide consistent competition for national teams aiming to better prepare for the Men’s Rugby World Cup in Australia 2027. The competition is part of the updated international calendar approved in 2023.
The Nations Cup will take place in even-numbered years —2026, 2028, 2030— and will bring together national teams ranked just below the Nations Championship, where the world’s rugby powerhouses compete.
Participating Teams
Eleven teams are already qualified:
Canada, Chile, Georgia, Hong Kong China, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Tonga, Uruguay, the United States, and Zimbabwe.
The final spot will be decided on November 18, 2025, between Samoa and Belgium.
The teams will be divided into two regional groups:
Group A (Europe, Africa, Asia): Georgia, Spain, Portugal, Romania, Hong Kong China, and Zimbabwe.
Group B (Americas and Pacific): Uruguay, United States, Chile, Tonga, Canada, and Samoa/Belgium.
Nations Cup Format and Calendar (2026 and 2028)
The Nations Cup will be played in even-numbered years, starting in 2026 and returning in 2028. Each edition follows the same structure:
📅 July 2026 and July 2028
- Group A (Georgia, Spain, Portugal, Romania, Hong Kong China, and Zimbabwe)
travels outside Europe to play three away matches. - During this window, each Group A team faces three Group B opponents, always as visitors.
📅 November 2026 and November 2028
- Group B (Uruguay, USA, Chile, Tonga, Canada, and Samoa/Belgium)
travels to Europe to play another three matches. - In this stage, each Group B team plays against three Group A teams, also as visitors.
🔁 Total Matches per Team
Across both windows (July + November):
- Each team plays six matches, all against opponents from the opposite group.
- No teams play against others from their own group.
🏆 How Champions Are Decided
- Each group has its own standings table, based on the results against teams from the other group.
- At the end of November, two champions are crowned: one from Group A and one from Group B.