The Nations Championship turns the existing July and November international rugby windows in the calendar into a new and uniquely competitive format where teams form two groups of six to represent the Northern and Southern Hemisphere, all vying to be named the best team in the world this year, as well as establish their respective Hemisphere as the dominant force in international rugby.

<< FINALS WEEKEND TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW >>

Every fixture and point matters to ever team, on the way to the Finals Weekend, and the November ‘Northern Series’ fixtures and venues have been confirmed, turning the Northern Hemisphere into the centre of global rugby for the entire month. Cities and iconic venues across Europe will host fans from all over the world, as the heavyweight nations representing the Southern Hemisphere travel north of the equator to face their remaining rivals from their opposing group. Vital points will be on offer, to dictate table standings per group and confirm the schedule of fixtures for the Finals Weekend.

Ireland will get proceedings underway and inaugurate the ‘Northern Series’, on Friday 6 November, when Argentina travel to Dublin for an evening clash at the Aviva Stadium. What follows will be an entire month of elite international rugby action featuring the 12 strongest teams and best players in the sport, competing on the global stage.

The Nations Championship guarantees fixtures between the strongest international rugby teams from the two hemispheres, and this November sees some of the fiercest rivalries in the sport light up world class venues across Europe. Fixtures include Scotland versus Australia at Scottish Gas Murrayfield, France against the Springboks in Paris at the Stade de France, England hosting New Zealand at Allianz Stadium, Wales versus Japan at the Principality, and Italy versus Argentina, with a major sporting venue primed to be confirmed.

Every fixture in November comes laced with historic rivalry, but with the added element of points, silverware and titles on the line, every clash carries even more meaning and jeopardy.

All routes then lead to London, for the Nations Championship Finals Weekend on 27-29 November. Fans can look forward to three days of double headers at Allianz Stadium, and the two newest titles in international rugby ready to be won. Each team will play their equivalently ranked rival from the opposing Hemisphere group; 6^th versus 6^th, all the way to 1^st versus 1^st, when the best team in the world will be decided. Teams are also competing for points on behalf of their group, to decide the winning Hemisphere and define the balance of power in the sport.

Fans can secure their place to be part of history, with the first of its kind Finals Weekend taking over London. There are ticket options and price points to suit all fans, including day tickets which will give fans access to the two fixtures on a given day. Weekend packages are available, securing access to every fixture across the three days, or there is the ‘Support Your Team’ option, with tickets guaranteeing that fans can watch their team, regardless of the day they end up competing on.

Commenting on the confirmation of the Nations Championship ‘Northern Series’ fixtures and venues, that build toward the Finals Weekend in London, Tom Harrison, CEO of Six Nations Rugby, said: "The Nations Championship Finals Weekend will put the very best teams and players on the global stage, creating an incredible experience unlike anything else in sport. That is why we were committed to creating options and price points that mean as many fans as possible have access to tickets to attend the three days of fixtures in London.

"The major venues and cities confirmed to host the Northern Series fixtures will make the Northern Hemisphere the center of attention for global sport's fans, before all roads lead to London for the Finals Weekend. This promises to make the entire month of November an incredible experience for players and fans all over the world."

Brendan Morris, CEO of SANZAAR added: "The Nations Championship is set to deliver an incredible experience for global fans, in world-class sports venues and in a new and uniquely competitive tournament format. Following the July Southern Series, the SANZAAR teams will venture north in November to play the second half off the tournament, and determined to ensure success against the Northern Teams, to then set up an action-packed Finals weekend in London as they seek the newest silverware in international rugby.

"Three days of fixtures, featuring the best teams and players in the world, going head-to-head in London, the Finals Weekend will literally see Hemispheres Collide. Undoubtedly it will deliver rugby that should not be missed. For this reason, we wanted to make sure as many fans as possible had access to experience the Finals Weekend, and with tickets now on sale, there are ticket options and price points to suit every fan.”

TICKETING

• Nations Championship Finals Weekend tickets can be purchased, via the dedicated Finals Weekend Ticketmaster platform.
• Each Union hosting Nations Championship ‘Northern Series’ fixtures, will be managing tickets for their three November ‘home’ fixtures
• Remaining ‘Northern Series’ venues will be confirmed in due course.

SPRINGBOKS' FIXTURES:

Saturday 4 July: Springboks v England (Ellis Park, Johannesburg)
Saturday 11 July: Springboks v Scotland (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)
Saturday 18 July: Springboks v Wales (Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban)

Saturday 7 November: Italy v Springboks (venue TBC)
Friday 13 November: France v Springboks (Stade de France, Paris)
Saturday 21 November: Ireland v Springboks (Aviva Stadium, Dublin)
Friday 27 to Sunday 29 November: Finals Weekend (Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, London) – TICKETS

FINALS WEEKEND FIXTURES

Friday 27 November
6^th Place Northern Hemisphere vs 6^th Place Southern Hemisphere
3^rd Place Northern Hemisphere vs 3^rd Place Southern Hemisphere

Saturday 28 November
5^th Place Northern Hemisphere vs 5^th Place Southern Hemisphere
2^nd Place Northern Hemisphere vs 2^nd Place Southern Hemisphere

Sunday 29 November
4^th Place Northern Hemisphere vs 4^th Place Southern Hemisphere
1^st Place Northern Hemisphere vs 1^st Place Southern Hemisphere

Points System - July and November

• The Nations Championship will see each of the 12 teams play six matches, three in July, three in November.
• In July, Northern Hemisphere teams head south to play the opening three rounds of the tournament.
• In November, the Southern Hemisphere teams head north.
• Every result matters, with every point dictating the group standings. There are four points for a win, two for a draw and zero for a loss.
• Bonus points are available for teams that score four tries or losing by seven points or fewer.
• Each team will play every nation from their rival hemisphere group.

Finals Weekend

• After six rounds, the final standings will lock for the ultimate showdown at the Finals Weekend at Allianz Stadium, London.
• The Finals Weekend will host three double-headers across the 27, 28 and 29 November. 
• The double-headers will pit each hemisphere team against their rival hemisphere team in the corresponding table position (e.g. 1st vs 1st, 2nd vs 2nd, etc.)
• Seven points are available in the hemisphere group challenge - a win in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th finals is worth one point. Two points are awarded to the winners of the 1st v 1^st
• The first hemisphere to reach four points, wins.
• The weekend culminates in the first placed final where the champion will be crowned.