League: Six Nations Sport: Rugby Country: Global Category: Match Previews

New Zealand, Australia, England, and Ireland set for Nations Championship matches

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 3, 2026, 12:00 PM

Last updated Jul 3, 2026

New Zealand, Australia, England, and Ireland set for Nations Championship matches

Summary

The inaugural Nations Championship 2026 rugby tournament begins this Saturday, July 4, featuring 12 top international teams. Matches include New Zealand against France at 3:10 a.m. ET, Japan vs. Italy at 4:40 a.m. ET, and Australia taking on Ireland at 6:10 a.m. ET, all streamed on RugbyPass TV. The tournament combines teams from the Six Nations and the Rugby Championship, alongside Fiji and Japan, culminating in a finals weekend at Twickenham from November 27 to 29. Fans in the U.S. can access all matches online with a free subscription to RugbyPass TV.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

Key Details

•Tournament kicks off on July 4 with 12 teams
•Matches include New Zealand vs. France and Australia vs. Ireland
•Streaming available exclusively on RugbyPass TV in the U.S.
•Finals weekend scheduled for November 27-29 at Twickenham
•Combines teams from Six Nations, Rugby Championship, Fiji, and Japan

Latest Updates

12:00 PMYahoo Sports — How to watch Nations Championship 2026 rugby: Live streams, TV channels, start times, latest fixture schedule

What they're saying

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What channel is Nations Championship 2026 rugby on? Latest fixture schedule as the likes of New Zealand, Australia, England and Ireland contest the inaugural rugby union competition.
— Yahoo Sports

Related Teams & Leagues

Six Nations Rugby