Race to the Final How the Nations Championship Is Decided

The new-fangled Nations Championship was launched for the first time in 2026, injecting fresh energy and jeopardy into the international rugby union calendar, and the competition has already produced some scintillating action.

The changes and new Nations Championship final format might take a little getting used to, though this guide aims to break down how the shakeup is decided, which will hopefully help fans to plot their team’s potential journey through the tournament and to plan trips to watch their countries live.

If you are looking to purchase tickets for the Nations Championship, you can secure your seats by using the ticket resellers’ marketplace at LiveRugbyTickets. We have a large inventory of Nations Championship tickets for every team involved, as well as rugby tickets for other major tournaments like the Six Nations and Rugby World Cup.

2026 Nations Championship: the story so far

Fixtures for the Nations Championship in 2026 were scheduled to take place in the traditional summer and autumn slots that were reserved for the annual international test matches.

Split into the Southern Hemisphere Series (July) and Northern Hemisphere Series (November), the initial pool phase follows a standard league format, before the climactic Finals Weekend crowns the overall winner.

Four points are awarded for victories and two for draws, while bonus points are also available for any team that scores 4+ tries or loses by seven or fewer points in a single sitting.

The Southern Hemisphere Series over the summer saw South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Argentina, Japan and Fiji* take on the role of hosts, with the teams playing three fixtures each against visiting sides from the Northern Hemisphere, which included France, Scotland, England, Ireland, Wales and Italy. (*Fiji’s “home” games were actually played in Europe due to stadium issues in their homeland).

At the close of play in July, the Nations Championship standings were as follows, after some frenetic, high-class rugby:

Northern Hemisphere

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	TB	LB	Pts
1	France	3	2	0	1	116	75	+41	16	11	3	1	12
2	Scotland	3	2	0	1	108	97	+11	16	14	3	0	11
3	England	3	2	0	1	125	77	+48	19	11	2	0	10
4	Ireland	3	2	0	1	90	91	−1	13	13	2	0	10
5	Wales	3	1	0	2	60	102	−42	9	15	1	0	5
6	Italy	3	0	0	3	37	131	−94	5	19	0	0	0

Southern Hemisphere

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	TB	LB	Pts
1	South Africa	3	3	0	1	130	49	+81	20	7	3	0	15
2	New Zealand	3	3	0	0	121	70	+51	18	9	3	0	15
3	Australia	3	1	0	2	114	85	+29	18	13	3	1	8
4	Argentina	3	1	0	2	97	99	−2	13	15	2	1	7
5	Japan	3	1	0	2	62	88	−26	7	12	0	0	4
6	Fiji	3	0	0	3	49	145	−96	7	22	0	0	0

Stadiums were packed and atmospheres were electric for the Southern Hemisphere Series fixtures, with tickets for the Nations Championship in high demand with our customers. Nations Championship Northern Hemisphere Series tickets are guaranteed to be just as popular, so make sure to secure yours today on our secure, online platform to avoid disappointment.

What happens next? Nations Championship Final format explained

Play is paused in the competition for now, but in November, the Nations Championship Northern Series kicks into gear, when teams from that region take their turn to host their antagonists from the south.

This is when the real nitty gritty of the tournament takes place and the results this autumn will determine the final standings in both the Northern and Southern Pool.

LiveRugbyTickets is ready to get you pitch side for any or all of November’s Nations Championship fixtures later this year. Whether you’re looking for Ireland vs Argentina tickets at the Aviva Stadium, tickets for France vs South Africa at the Stade de France or England vs New Zealand tickets at Twickenham, you can find a wide range of options and seats through our booking system.

Once the pool stage is finished and the final positions are decided, all 12 competing teams will advance to the Finals Weekend in late November (27th to 29th).

Across what promises to be a gripping weekend of rugby union action in November, each team will face off against the side that finished in the same position as them from the opposite pool. For example, a team that finished 3rd in the Northern Hemisphere Pool will take on the country that finished 3rd in the Southern Hemisphere and so on.

For the winners of each pool, however, the Grand Final at Twickenham Stadium in London on November 29th awaits. In this climactic contest, the first outright winner of the Nations Championship will be decided.

When the participants of that Grand Final, as well as the other Finals Weekend fixtures, are decided, we will have a range of tickets available for each clash. Customers can choose and secure their seats for Finals Weekend through our online booking system.

With this being the inaugural Nations Championship tournament and first-ever edition of the Nations Championship Grand Final, tickets are expected to go fast, so make sure to check our inventory at LiveRugbyTickets regularly to guarantee you’re there to witness the champions being crowned.