Rugby Nations Championship 2026: Who Are the Favourites?

International rugby is about to change in a big way. The inaugural Nations Championship, a 12-team tournament pitting the Six Nations sides against the four Rugby Championship nations plus Fiji and Japan, gets underway on Saturday, July 4, with the first round of fixtures hosted across the Southern Hemisphere. It culminates with a Finals Weekend at the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, on 27-29 November, where the top-ranked Northern and Southern Hemispheres will meet in a showpiece final. Here are the teams that look best placed to be there.

South Africa

The Springboks enter as world number ones and the reigning Rugby World Cup champions, a title they’ve held since lifting the trophy for a record fourth time in 2023. The format of the Nations Championship suits their personnel, with South Africa to host England, Scotland and Wales in July before touring Italy, France and Ireland in November. They’re the most physically dominant team around, and their ability to win high-pressure knockout matches makes them the team nobody wants to face. The latest sports betting online has them as the team to beat, and it’s easy to see why.

New Zealand

The All Blacks were the team that lost to South Africa in the 2023 World Cup final, so they will be motivated by that in this tournament. Scott Robertson was replaced by Dave Rennie as head coach, and there’s hope this change will deliver. The July round opens with New Zealand hosting France in Christchurch. The All Blacks are the most successful team in Rugby World Cup history and have made a name for themselves for thriving in knockout formats. If they top the Southern Hemisphere standings after six rounds, they will be a serious opponent for whoever emerges from the North.

France

France won back-to-back Six Nations titles in 2025 and 2026, with their latest triumph secured by Thomas Ramos’ dramatic final-kick penalty in a 48-46 thriller against England. Antoine Dupont remains one of the best players in the world, and the depth of France’s squad is unrivalled in European rugby. They start their July programme in New Zealand as mentioned above, and it will be the clearest indicator of where Les Bleus stand globally. France vs South Africa in the final at Twickenham is a serious possibility and a match the world would love to see.

Ireland

Ireland won the Triple Crown in the 2026 Six Nations and remain one of the most tactically astute teams in world rugby. They will head to Australia in their opening game, before matches in Japan and New Zealand. Andy Farrell has a battle-hardened, experienced squad. If they carry that form into the Nations Championship, Ireland could be the dark horse of the Northern Hemisphere standings.

England

Steve Borthwick and his England side travel to Ellis Park in South Africa in the opening round, which is as daunting a task as any team could face. But England are in better shape than they have been for a number of years. If they can perform against the Springboks, it could generate momentum that carries them further in the competition.

Conclusion

South Africa and France certainly look the strongest teams in the inaugural edition of the Nations Championship, though every team will be out to make history as the competition’s inaugural winners. It’s also a chance to be named the dominant force in world rugby.