Nations Championship draw revealed: All Blacks to host France, Italy and Ireland

Jordie Barrett in action against France in July. Photo / Alyse Wright

The All Blacks will kick off the Nations Championship era by hosting France, Italy and Ireland in July 2026 during a year that will see the side play 17 games, including 13 tests.

The inaugural Nations Championship draw has been unveiled as the Southern and Northern Hemispheres square off every two years in a 12-team, two-pool tournament format, featuring the Six Nations, the four Sanzaar nations, Japan and Fiji.

After hosting three northern rivals in July, the All Blacks will head north to play Wales, Scotland and England, before taking part in the Nations Championship finals weekend at Twickenham, featuring all 12 teams in six playoff matches during the last weekend of November.

Venues and kickoff times for the All Blacks’ home tests will be announced at a later date.

The Nations Championship sandwiches the All Blacks’ Greatest Rivalry tour of South Africa in August and September, which includes four tests and four games against the Republic’s United Rugby Championship sides, and a two-test Bledisloe Cup series against Australia in October.

All Blacks coach Scott Robertson said the new competition was exciting for players and fans.

“It’s a unique season when you consider all the elements, including the tours we have ahead of us and the chance to host France, Italy, Ireland and Australia in the same year,” Robertson said.

“Each test we play against our Northern Hemisphere rivals will take on extra significance, with Nations Championship competition points on the line as teams vie for a place in the inaugural Northern Hemisphere v Southern Hemisphere final.”

The Nations Championship is a new international competition that transforms the existing July and November windows into a competitive cross-hemisphere format every two years, outside of World Cup and Lions tour years.

The Six Nations teams will form a European group representing the Northern Hemisphere, and take on the Sanzaar nations, Japan and Fiji, who form a group nominally representing the Southern Hemisphere.

The finals weekend will see the No 1 teams in the Northern and Southern Hemisphere groups face each other to determine the inaugural Nations Championship winner.

Nations Championship

Southern Series

Saturday, July 4: All Blacks v France.

Saturday, July 11: All Blacks v Italy.

Saturday, July 18: All Blacks v Ireland.

Northern Series

Sunday, November 8: All Blacks v Scotland.

Sunday, November 15: All Blacks v Wales.

Sunday, November 22: All Blacks v England.

November 28-30: Finals Weekend.