Springboks to host England, Scotland and Wales as Nations Championship-era begins

The Springboks will host three Six Nations teams in July next year as the new Nations Championship was launched on Monday to effectively replace the traditional June tours by the north to the south, and the November tours by the south to the north.

It has been revealed by SA Rugby that the Springboks will host England (July 4), Scotland (July 11) and Wales (July 18) in mid-year Tests. Next year, the Boks travel to Italy (weekend of November 6-8), France (weekend of November 13-15) and Ireland (November 21) to complete fixtures against Six Nations teams.

Venues and kick-off times for the Boks’ three home Tests next July will be confirmed by SA Rugby in due course.

The Nations Championship has been discussed for years, but has now been finalised in a groundbreaking venture between Sanzaar and Six Nations Rugby. It will be a biennial tournament featuring the twelve biggest nations in world rugby and could 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.

All twelve nations will compete for points – four for a win, two for a draw, zero for a loss, and bonus points for scoring four or more tries or losing by seven points or fewer – to determine the standings in their respective groups. Following the six rounds, the Nations Championship will culminate in a first-of-its-kind finals weekend, hosted at Twickenham in London next November.

By the conclusion of the finals weekend, players and fans will know the best nation in the sport, and where the balance of power lies between the two hemispheres outside a World Cup. Adding to the competitive jeopardy of the finals weekend, teams will also be competing to earn points for their group to decide the dominant hemisphere in that year.

The Nations Championship will not take place in 2027, as it is a World Cup year, with a full Rugby Championship also scheduled. In 2028, the Nations Championship schedule will be reversed, with France, Ireland and Italy travelling to South Africa, while the Boks will face England, Scotland and Wales in the UK.

The new competition has the blessing of SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer.

“The Nations Championship will transform the existing international windows in July and November, which means every Test will now count for more than just bragging rights and world ranking points,” Oberholzer said. “It will change the global game as we know it, and from SA Rugby and the Springboks’ side, we are very excited about what the future holds.

“Kicking off with Tests against England, Scotland and Wales will provide the Boks with three tough Tests and just the right preparation for Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry against the All Blacks, which follows in August.

“Scotland’s last visit to South Africa was in 2014; England have not been here since 2018; and Wales last came to us in 2022, so we can’t wait to welcome them back.”