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Six Nations, SANZAAR statement: New tournaments to launch in 2026
By Liam Heagney
The Six Nations and SANZAAR have issued a joint statement explaining their ambitious plans to launch a new tournament in 2026 in the existing July and November international rugby windows. All of the Six Nations and SANZAAR teams will compete and will be joined by two invitational unions.
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Six Nations and SANZAAR will own and operate the elite competition, with World Rugby creating a newly formed second-tier competition to facilitate promotion and relegation matches.
A statement read: “Six Nations Rugby and SANZAAR are working in partnership, alongside global rugby stakeholders, to bring to life a new international rugby competition that will be played in the existing July and November test windows.
“The creation of the new competition has been a collective process from the sport, including World Rugby, unions, key leagues, competitions, and crucially, the International Rugby Players.
“Set to begin in 2026, the new elite competition will feature all the Six Nations Rugby and SANZAAR teams, with two spaces reserved for invitational unions to join the southern hemisphere group. A transparent selection process will be managed by SANZAAR, supported by World Rugby and the International Rugby Players, to determine these two invitational unions.
'It is tougher for players now that never really experience the real world until it is the end of their rugby career' @IntRugbyPlayers head of legal David Quinlan talks to @heagneyl 👨💻 #rugby https://t.co/DOgQPt55SQ
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 16, 2023
“Owned and operated by Six Nations Rugby and SANZAAR, the elite competition will take place in alternating years, outside of the British and Irish Lions Tours and Rugby World Cup.
“Involved at every stage of developing the new competition, has been the International Rugby Players. This connection has been key in supporting the wider conversations around the club and international calendar taking place in parallel, and ensuring player welfare has remained a fundamental priority in all decision-making.
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“To strengthen the development pathway for emerging nations, World Rugby will create a second-tier competition that will feature teams from Europe and the rest of the world, with Six Nations Rugby and SANZAAR actively involved in cementing the link between the two divisions.
“Establishing the two competitions will pave the way for promotion and relegation matches, contributing towards a valuable pathway for teams, and will support ambitions to sustain and grow the global game.
“The introduction of the new elite international competition is a testament to the strong ambition from all parties, motivated by delivering context and a stronger narrative around the July and November windows, that can genuinely excite players and bring new fans to the game.
“The impact this will have on the game will be to drive its growth and long-term sustainability. This runs alongside the work being done to add greater clarity and balance to the club and international calendar; a process Six Nations Rugby and SANZAAR remain committed to helping deliver.
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Why more test matches, as there seems to be many of these already? Why not a Top Club Competition? Such as top club teams from Pro14, Currie Cup South Africa, Super Rugby Pacific, South American Super Rugby Team, Japanese One League team, USA Premier Rugby, English Gallagher Premiership Rugby and French Rugby.
This would give more players from other different countries the opportunity to be able to pass on new skills to others and perhaps help players move into new teams.
Awesome.
There was talk that promo/reg would be ring fenced until 2030, I don't see anything about that here so I hope that means teams can get promoted from day one.
All the same it's more matches between the same small group of countries, and will involve way more travel than the current summer calender.
After the success of Georgia at the U20s I have been wondering why a genuine euros was never considered, and other regional comps like a proper Pacific Nations Cup with Aus, NZ, Jap and Arg joining the pacific islands and up and coming american countries.
Still seems that it slightly marginalizes other teams like Samoa, Tonga, Georgia, Romania, Portugal, Spain, Chile, Uruguay, Brazil, Namibia, and Hong Kong.
I would've preferred promotion-relegation or permanent additions in the Six Nations and Rugby Championship, but anyways it's worth watching how the WL concept unfolds.