Competition between northern and southern hemisphere nations starts again at the Aviva on Friday and reaches its finale across three days at Twickenham later this month

Stuart McCloskey of Ireland, left, and Jordie Barrett of New Zealand after the 2026 Nations Championship Round 3 match between New Zealand and Ireland at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand  © Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

The Nations Championship is back this weekend. In July, three rounds of the inaugural competition were played out, pitting the best of the southern hemisphere against their northern equivalents, on the other side of the globe.

This time the northern sides will host, with a novel “finals weekend” to be played out in London. By the end of November, a tournament winner and “rugby’s dominant force” will be crowned.

Clear as mud? Let us explain how the championship works.

Which teams are involved?

The Six Nations as we know them (Ireland, England, France, Italy, Scotland and Wales) represented the north and went on tour in the summer to play three matches apiece, with trips to face the Sanzaar nations (South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina) as well as Fiji and Japan. Well, kind of.

Tom OToole of Ireland scores his side’s second try during the 2026 Nations Championship Round Two match against Japan at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle, Australia  © Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

What is the format?

There are two tables in this competition – one for the northern hemisphere teams, one for the six southern sides.

As it stands, France top the table of the Six Nations sides, with Ireland two points back in fourth after wins over Australiia and Japan before a loss to New Zealand in phase one. Italy lie on the bottom.

For the southern teams, it is of course South Africa topping their table. And how that finishes up is significant.

Because the northern sides will host three matches at home this month, before everyone heads to Allianz Stadium in Twickenham on November 27 for the finals weekend, when there will be six matches across Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Fiji ended up playing their ‘home’ matches in July, in Liverpool, Edinburgh and Cardiff, so it is no surprise that they prop up the southern table.

Sean Jansen of Ireland celebrates with friends after the 2026 Nations Championship Round Two win over Japan at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle, Australia  © Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

How finals weekend works

The two sixth-placed teams will face each other. The teams in fifth face off and so on, until the last match on Sunday when the northern table leaders will duke it out with the team top of the southern table for the right to lift the Nations Championship trophy.

So, if things were to remain as they are, France would face the Springboks in the final.

But not so fast. The points tallies reset for finals weekend and across the three days points will accumulate again for each table so that either north or south can be declared as the dominant hemisphere.

There will be two points for the winning hemisphere in the grand final. Then a single point for each winner of second v second, third v third, fourth v fourth, fifth v fifth and sixth v sixth matches. If any of them ends as a draw, each team is awarded half a point.

Tate McDermott of Australia clears under pressure from Tadhg Beirne of Ireland during the 2026 Nations Championship Round One match at Allianz Stadium in Sydney, Australia  © Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

What if there is a draw in the final?

We know what you are thinking and yes, it could all be decided by a goal-kicking shootout.

If the ultimate match of finals weekend ends all square there will be two 10-minute halves of extra-time, where a golden point decides things (first to score wins). If no more points are scored in that period, it is time to set up a kicking competition.

In the matches before the final game there will be one 10-minute extra-time period of golden-point play. If the teams remain level, a draw is declared and half points go to each team for their final hemisphere tally.

Sam Prendergast of Ireland runs onto the pitch before the 2026 Nations Championship Round 3 defeat to the All Blacks at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand  © Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

How to watch it on TV

The home for all of the Nations Championship action is on Virgin Media in Ireland and UTV in the north. And there will be some proper binge-watching opportunities.

The penultimate round of matches (November 21) sees every match played on the same day. That’s six showdowns on one day, starting with England v New Zealand at 2.10pm, with Scotland hosting Japan at the same time), before Ireland welcome South Africa to the Aviva at 4.40pm when Italy also take on Fiji. The bumper day ends with the choice of France v Argentina or Wales v Australia at 8.10pm.

Make sure you are well stocked for snacks and supplies.

First round

It all starts with Ireland hosting Argentina this Friday, November 6 at 8.10pm, while on Saturday Italy play South Africa (11.40am), Wales host Japan at 4.40pm and France face Fiji in the late game at 8.10pm (all times Irish).

But the pick of the games will be Scotland against New Zealand at 2.10pm on Saturday, November 7 before England host the Wallabies the following day at 3.10pm.