Fixtures and standings as Nations Championship returns
Fixtures and standings as Nations Championship returns
Sat, November 7, 2026 at 12:17 PM UTC
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The Nations Championship resumed on Friday with Ireland securing a 42-12 win over Argentina, as the battle for continental supremacy heats up.
After three rounds of home games for southern hemisphere nations in July, the northern hemisphere teams are the hosts for the final three rounds.
Ireland's win over Argentina moved them top of the standings in the north, but France and Scotland can move above the Irish with victories on Saturday.
Six Nations champions France face Fiji on Saturday while Scotland - who are one point behind Les Bleus - hope to beat against New Zealand for the first time at Murrayfield on Saturday before games against Australia and Japan.
Third-placed England have 10 points and play Australia - who are third in the southern standings - at Allianz Stadium on Sunday before taking on Japan and New Zealand.
Ireland, who also have 10 points, face the challenge of taking on South Africa in the final round after playing Fiji in their second home game.
Wales beat Fiji before losing to Argentina and South Africa in their opening three matches. Their home games are against Japan, New Zealand and Australia.
Bottom-side Italy lost all three of their away games and face South Africa on Saturday.
The Springboks beat England, Scotland and Wales at home in their opening three Tests to lead New Zealand on points difference.
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StandingsAutumn fixtures & results
Friday, 6 November
Ireland 42-12 Argentina
Saturday, 7 November
Italy v South Africa (11:40 GMT)
Scotland v New Zealand (14:10 GMT)
Wales v Japan (16:40 GMT)
France v Fiji (20:10 GMT)
Sunday, 8 November
England v Australia (15:10 GMT)
Friday, 13 November
France v South Africa (20:10 GMT)
Saturday, 14 November
Italy v Argentina (11:40 GMT)
Wales v New Zealand (14:10 GMT)
England v Japan (16:40 GMT)
Ireland v Fiji (20:10 GMT)
Sunday, 15 November
Scotland v Australia (15:10 GMT)
Saturday, 21 November
England v New Zealand (14:10 GMT)
Scotland v Japan (14:10 GMT)
Ireland v South Africa (16:40 GMT)
Italy v Fiji (16:40 GMT)
France v Argentina (20:10 GMT)
Wales v Australia (20:10 GMT)
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How are Ireland set for the Nations Championship?
How will Wales fare on Nations Championship return?
What is the Nations Championship?
The Nations Championship pits the northern hemisphere teams who compete in the Six Nations - England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France and Italy - against southern hemisphere giants South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina, plus invited sides Fiji and Japan.
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All teams will play each of the six in the opposing hemisphere once, with three rounds of fixtures staged in July and another three in November.
Their results will rank the teams within their own hemisphere, from one to six.
On the final weekend in November, there is a three-day play-off event staged at Allianz Stadium in Twickenham. The sixth-placed team in the northern hemisphere plays off against the equivalent in the southern hemisphere standings and so on, culminating in the two top-ranked sides taking each other on.
The winner of that final match is crowned the inaugural Nations Championship winner.
There is also a parallel, Ryder-Cup style hemisphere title. The winner of each of the matches on the play-offs weekend will earn one point for their hemisphere, except for the contest between the two top-ranked teams which delivers two.
The first hemisphere to earn four points over the weekend will be crowned winners.
The Nations Championship trophy and the shield awarded to the best hemisphere are pictured at the Tower of London in LondonFinals Weekend
27 November
Sixth-place North v Sixth-place South (16:40 GMT)
Third-place North v Third-place South (20:10 GMT)
28 November
Fifth-place North v Fifth-place South (13:10 GMT)
Second-place North v Second-place South (16:40 GMT)
29 November
Fourth-place North v Fourth-place South (13:10 GMT)
First-place North v First-place South (16:40 GMT)
Summer results
Saturday, 6 July
New Zealand 34-32 France
Japan 27-10 Italy
Australia 31-33 Ireland
Fiji 24-39 Wales
South Africa 45-21 England
Argentina 38-47 Scotland
Saturday, 11 July
New Zealand 47-17 Italy
Australia 26-42 France
Japan 20-36 Ireland
Fiji 8-73 England
South Africa 42-28 Scotland
Argentina 35-21 Wales
Saturday, 18 July
New Zealand 40-21 Ireland
Japan 15-42 France
Australia 57-10 Italy
Fiji 17-33 Scotland
South Africa 43-0 Wales
Argentina 24-31 England
North v South - the battle for global supremacy is tighter than ever
Source: “AOL Sports”
