World Rugby has unveiled the match schedule for the inaugural World Rugby Nations Cup, set to take place throughout July and November 2026, with the tournament first-ever fixture taking place in Montevideo on 4 July as Uruguay host Georgia.
Currently ranked 15th and 13th respectively in the World Rugby Men’s Rankings, the two nations promise a highly competitive and compelling opener to the first edition of the competition, setting the tone for a new global era of international rugby.
The competition sees the 12 unions who qualified for Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 compete in a structured environment designed to accelerate competitiveness and create certainty of meaningful annual test fixtures with revenue opportunities.
The exciting schedule balances geographic spread, player welfare, logistics cost and developmental opportunity, providing fans with clarity, teams with certainty, and unions with commercial opportunities. These nations represent rugby’s most exciting growth markets, many of whom have made significant strides in recent years through dedicated pathways, increased investment, and record levels of supporter engagement.
The Nations Cup gives them an annual platform to test themselves against comparable opposition, refine systems, and optimize experience ahead of Australia 2027. The 12 participating unions will compete in two pools of six, reflecting the structure of the top division, the Nations Championship, which is owned and operated by the joint venture between Six Nations Rugby and SANZAAR, and ensuring a consistent, meaningful calendar across the July and November international windows.
Pool A – Americas & Pacific pool – features Canada, Chile, Samoa, Tonga, Uruguay, and the USA, bringing together fast‑growing unions across both hemispheres.
Pool B – Europe, Asia & Africa pool – comprises Georgia, Hong Kong China, Portugal, Romania, Spain, and Zimbabwe, creating a competitive cross‑regional group with diverse playing styles and passionate supporter bases.
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