Rugby’s inaugural Nations Championship is approaching its conclusion as the global tournament moves through the final rounds of its November window.
The competition, which was “announced during the 2023 Rugby World Cup”, replaces traditional summer and autumn tours to provide more context to the international calendar.
The tournament features twelve teams, including the Six Nations sides, the four Rugby Championship competitors, Fiji, and Japan.
As the schedule progresses, the results of the recent matches have begun to shape the final standings.
France recently secured a narrow victory over South Africa, with the “France 21-19 South Africa” result impacting the pool rankings, according to reporting from the Independent.
South Africa and New Zealand remain in contention for the top positions within their pool.
The tournament is set to culminate in a finals weekend held at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium from November 27 to 29.
The event will feature six matches contested over three days to determine the final rankings for all entrants.
The “Nations Championship final” will feature the top-ranked side from the northern pool against the top-ranked side from the southern pool, as detailed in the tournament schedule.
This marquee match is worth two points toward the overall hemisphere trophy, while other matches on the final weekend are worth one point.
Tournament organizers have confirmed plans for future promotion and relegation cycles involving a second-tier competition, though these changes will not be implemented for the 2026 season.
For viewers in the United Kingdom, the competition is being broadcast on ITV, which serves as the official free-to-air broadcaster for the tournament.
As teams enter the final round of pool play, the focus shifts to securing favorable seedings for the concluding weekend in London.
The inaugural trophy will be awarded to the winner of the final match on November 29.