🏉 Exciting times ahead for Welsh rugby fans! Next summer, Wales is set to travel to South Africa and Argentina for the groundbreaking Rugby Nations Championship. One of the big highlights? A much-anticipated clash against Fiji! While the exact location for this match is still up in the air, it promises to be a thrilling encounter. 🌍
Fiji’s announcement of hosting England, Scotland, and Wales in this new biennial championship comes with the twist that matches won’t play out on their home turf. Instead, venues in the UK seem to be the preferred choice for financial reasons, while a potential London or France showdown could be on the cards, given Fiji’s player base.
In this new format, the Nations Championship will pit the top Six Nations teams against Rugby Championship competitors, plus Japan and Fiji. The competition replaces the traditional tours and adds a fresh twist with teams divided into the European and Rest of the World conferences. Each team will face off against all six teams from the opposite conference in July and November, culminating in a final showdown between the two conference winners.
This means that alongside South Africa, Argentina, and Fiji in the summer, Wales will also play New Zealand, Australia, and Japan in the autumn. Looking further ahead? The final for 2026 is slated for Twickenham, with Qatar and the United States hosting in 2028 and 2030.
Stay tuned, rugby fans! Fixture announcements are expected soon, promising a summer and autumn packed with thrilling international rugby action. 🇿🇦🇦🇷🇫🇯