Scotland v New Zealand, Australia, Japan dates for Nations Championship announced - includes one Sunday game
Inaugural Nations Championship set for London finale
Dates have been confirmed for the autumn leg of the Nations Championship, the new tournament which will attempt to bring a competitive structure to international rugby during the July and November windows.
Scotland will host New Zealand, Australia and Japan at Murrayfield then travel to Twickenham for a play-off match.
The new competition pits the Northern Hemisphere countries against those from the south, with the European nations travelling for the summer fixtures and then hosting in the autumn.
The November games have been dubbed the ‘Northern Series’.
Scotland will welcome the All Blacks to Edinburgh on Saturday, November 7 in what is always an eagerly anticipated fixture. New Zealand remain the one international side that Scotland have never beaten although they ran them close last year before going down 25-17.
Gregor Townsend’s side will then have a Sunday game against Australia on November 15 in what will be the first meeting of the sides since Scotland beat the Wallabies 24-17 at Murrayfield in 2024.
All 12 teams to play at Twickenham
The following weekend, Saturday, November 21, will see Scotland play Japan. Kick-off times for the games have yet to be announced.
All 12 competing teams will then decamp to the Allianz Stadium at Twickenham for the play-offs which will take place from November 27-29. These games will match the Northern Hemisphere sides with the Southern Hemisphere teams who finished in their equivalent position in the respective standings.
The two first places teams will meet on November 29 to decide the inaugural Nations Championship winners, with the other countries also playing across the weekend to determine final positions.
The tournament kicks off in the summer, with the dates for the ‘Southern Series’ games having previously been announced.
Scotland begin with a tricky fixture against Argentina in Cordoba on July 4 before facing an even tougher task against world champions South Africa at Loftus Versfeld on July 11. They round off their summer programme back at Murrayfield against Fiji on July 18. Technically, it is Fiji’s home game but they have agreed to play their July matches in Europe because this is where the majority of their players are based.
Nations Championship ‘Northern Series’ Fixtures and Venues
ROUND 4
Ireland vs Argentina (Fri 6th Nov): Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Italy vs South Africa (Sat 7th Nov): Venue TBC
Scotland vs New Zealand (Sat 7th Nov): Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Wales vs Japan (Sat 7th Nov): Principality Stadium, Cardiff
France vs Fiji (Sat 7th Nov): Venue TBC
England vs Australia (Sun 8th Nov): Allianz Stadium, London
ROUND 5
France vs South Africa (Fri 13th Nov): Stade de France, Paris
Italy vs Argentina (Sat14th Nov): Venue TBC
Wales vs New Zealand (Sat 14th Nov): Principality Stadium, Cardiff
England vs Japan (Sat 14th Nov): Allianz Stadium, London
Ireland vs Fiji (Sat 14th Nov): Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Scotland vs Australia (Sun 15th Nov): Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh
ROUND 6
England vs New Zealand (Sat 21st Nov): Allianz Stadium, London
Scotland vs Japan (Sat 21st Nov): Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Ireland vs South Africa (Sat 21st Nov): Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Italy vs Fiji (Sat 21st Nov): Venue TBC
France vs Argentina (Sat 21st Nov): Stade de France, Paris
Wales vs Australia (Sat 21st Nov): Principality Stadium, Cardiff
FINALS WEEKEND
Friday 27th November
6th Place Northern Hemisphere vs 6th Place Southern Hemisphere
3rd Place Northern Hemisphere vs 3rd Place Southern Hemisphere
Saturday 28th November
5th Place Northern Hemisphere vs 5th Place Southern Hemisphere
2nd Place Northern Hemisphere vs 2nd Place Southern Hemisphere
Sunday 29th November
4th Place Northern Hemisphere vs 4th Place Southern Hemisphere
1st Place Northern Hemisphere vs 1st Place Southern Hemisphere
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