2026 World Rugby Nations Cup

2026 World Rugby Nations Cup
Number of teams12
Date4 July – 21 November 2026
Matches played18
Attendance68,920
(average 3,829 per match)
Tries scored157
(average 8.7 per match)
Official website
www.world.rugby/nations-cup/en
Uruguay vs Hong Kong

The 2026 World Rugby Nations Cup is the inaugural edition of the World Rugby Nations Cup, a second tier rugby union competition for international men's teams, run by World Rugby, that will take place concurrently with the 2026 Nations Championship. It is due to consist of twelve teams.

Although promotion and relegation are intended for a future date, there will be no promotion or relegation in the 2026 edition between the Nations Championship and the Nations Cup.

Background

In December 2024 it was reported that the second division would initially consist of the 12 teams that successfully qualify for the 2027 Men's Rugby World Cup through the qualification process, meaning all the qualified teams for the 2027 tournament will take part in the inaugural edition of either the Nations Championship itself or the second division.[1]

On 17 November 2025, World Rugby confirmed that the second division competition would be called the World Rugby Nations Cup.[2]

At the same time, it was announced that in Rugby World Cup and British & Irish Lions years, when the Nations Championship and Nations Cup are not played, 'cross competition matches' between the Nations Championship teams and the Nations Cup teams will be prioritised.

Participants

Teams that will compete in the 2026 Nations Cup are:[2][3]

Team Stadium Head coach Captain
Home stadium Capacity Location
 Canada Clarke Stadium 6,000[4] Edmonton Steve Meehan Andrew Quattrin
Princess Auto Stadium 32,343 Winnipeg
 Chile Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos 48,745 Santiago Pablo Lemoine Martín Sigren
Estadio Sausalito 23,423 Viña del Mar
CARR Mahuida [N 1] 2,900 La Reina
 Georgia TBD Pierre-Henry Broncan Davit Niniashvili
 Hong Kong TBD Logan Asplin Pierce MacKinlay-West [N 2]
Joshua Hrstich [N 3]
 Portugal TBD Simon Mannix José Madeira
 Romania TBA David Gérard Cristi Boboc
 Samoa No home games Tusi Pisi Miracle Faiʻilagi
 Spain TBA Pablo Bouza Jon Zabala [N 4]
Álvaro García Albó [N 5]
 Tonga No home games Tevita Tuʻifua Sonatane Takulua
 United States Dick's Sporting Goods Park 18,061 Commerce City Scott Lawrence Jason Damm
American Legion Memorial Stadium 10,500 Charlotte
WakeMed Soccer Park 10,000 Cary
 Uruguay Estadio Charrua 14,000 Montevideo Rodolfo Ambrosio Felipe Aliaga
 Zimbabwe No home games Pieter Benade Hilton Mudariki [N 6]
Tinotenda Mavesere [N 7]

Notes

  1. ↑ The match was originally set to take place at Estadio La Portada, La Serena, but was relocated to CARR Mahuida due to concerns over adverse weather.[5]
  2. ↑ For Samoa v Hong Kong
  3. ↑ For Chile v Hong Kong
  4. ↑ For Canada v Spain
  5. ↑ For Tonga v Spain
  6. ↑ For Tonga v Zimbabwe
  7. ↑ For USA v Zimbabwe

Format

As with the 2026 Nations Championship the initial competition will consist of two broadly geographic pools:

  • an America-Pacific pool, consisting of the four American teams plus Tonga and Samoa; and
  • a European-African-Asian pool, consisting of the four European sides, Zimbabwe and Hong Kong.

Each team will play all the teams in the opposite pool across the summer and autumn international windows.

For the first two editions in 2026 and 2028, there will not be a finals day, and two champions will be crowned, one in each pool.

In addition, Samoa, Tonga, Zimbabwe and Hong Kong will play their home matches in neutral venues; in the case of Samoa and Tonga, in South and North America respectively and in the case of Hong Kong and Zimbabwe, in Continental Europe and England respectively. However Hong Kong's final match, against Tonga, will be played in Hong Kong as it is a convenient venue for Tonga in their journey back to the islands. The Americas series will take place in the northern hemisphere summer, and the European series in the northern hemisphere autumn.[6][7]

Standings

Americas-Pacific pool

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts
1  United States 3 3 0 0 90 66 +24 11 9 2 0 14
2  Chile 3 2 0 1 108 97 +11 15 13 2 0 10
3  Samoa 3 1 0 2 115 90 +25 16 12 2 1 7
4  Tonga 3 1 0 2 83 90 −7 12 13 2 1 7
5  Canada 3 1 1 1 79 99 −20 10 15 1 0 7
6  Uruguay 3 0 1 2 110 119 −9 17 15 3 2 7
Updated to match(es) played on 11 July 2026. Source: Nations Cup

European-African-Asian pool

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts
1  Georgia 3 3 0 0 123 68 +55 15 10 2 0 14
2  Portugal 3 2 0 1 99 72 +27 15 9 3 1 12
3  Spain 3 1 1 1 96 90 +6 13 13 2 1 9
4  Romania 3 1 1 1 105 121 −16 15 16 3 0 9
5  Hong Kong 3 1 0 2 78 144 −66 10 22 1 0 5
6  Zimbabwe 3 0 0 3 60 90 −30 9 11 1 1 2
Updated to match(es) played on 11 July 2026. Source: Nations Cup

Fixtures

Americas-Pacific Series

Matches will be held in the Americas region, with Samoa playing their matches in South America and Tonga playing their matches in North America. Each of the European visiting teams will play all their matches in either North America or all in South America to reduce travel.[8] Fixtures and venues were announced by World Rugby on 31 March 2026.[7]

Round 1

4 July 2026Uruguay 34–41 GeorgiaEstadio Charrua, Montevideo
4 July 2026Samoa 66–19 Hong KongEstadio Nacional Julio Martinez Pradanos, Santiago (Chile)
4 July 2026Chile 48–31 RomaniaEstadio Nacional Julio Martinez Pradanos, Santiago
4 July 2026Tonga 36–26 ZimbabweDick's Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City (United States)
4 July 2026United States 30–29 PortugalDick's Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City
4 July 2026Canada 42–42 SpainClarke Stadium, Edmonton

Round 2

11 July 2026Uruguay 36–36 RomaniaEstadio Charrua, Montevideo
11 July 2026Samoa 12–33 GeorgiaEstadio Sausalito, Vina del Mar (Chile)
11 July 2026Tonga 19–32 SpainClarke Stadium, Edmonton (Canada)
11 July 2026Chile 38–17 Hong KongEstadio Sausalito, Vina del Mar
11 July 2026United States 31–15 ZimbabweAmerican Legion Memorial Stadium, Charlotte
11 July 2026Canada 14–38 PortugalClarke Stadium, Edmonton

Round 3

18 July 2026Samoa 37–38 RomaniaEstadio Charrua, Montevideo (Uruguay)
18 July 2026Uruguay 40–42 Hong KongEstadio Charrua, Montevideo
18 July 2026Tonga 28–32 PortugalPrincess Auto Stadium, Winnipeg (Canada)
18 July 2026Chile 22–49 GeorgiaCARR Mahuida, La Reina
18 July 2026United States 29–22 SpainWakeMed Soccer Park, Cary
18 July 2026Canada 23–19 ZimbabwePrincess Auto Stadium, Winnipeg

European-African-Asian Series

European teams will host all of their matches at home. Zimbabwe will host their games in England. Hong Kong will play their first two matches in Europe, with the third (against Tonga) being held in Hong Kong.[9] Confirmation of venues will come in due course for the second leg of matches played in November.[10]

Round 4

7 November 2026Georgia v TongaTBA
7 November 2026Hong Kong v CanadaTBA, France
7 November 2026Portugal v ChileTBA
7 November 2026Romania v United StatesTBA
7 November 2026Spain v UruguayTBA
7 November 2026Zimbabwe v SamoaTrailfinders Sports Ground

Round 5

14 November 2026Georgia v CanadaTBA
14 November 2026Hong Kong v United StatesTBA, France
14 November 2026Portugal v SamoaTBA
14 November 2026Romania v TongaTBA
14 November 2026Spain v ChileTBA
14 November 2026Zimbabwe v UruguayTBA, England

Round 6

21 November 2026Hong Kong v TongaTBA, Hong Kong
21 November 2026Georgia v United StatesTBA
21 November 2026Portugal v UruguayTBA
21 November 2026Romania v CanadaTBA
21 November 2026Spain v SamoaTBA
21 November 2026Zimbabwe v ChileTBA, England

Player statistics

See also

References

  1. ↑ Kelleher, Will (12 December 2024). "England risk treacherous World Cup draw if results don't improve next year". The Times. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  2. 1 2 "World Rugby Nations Cup to launch in July 2026 to transform international calendar". World Rugby. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
  3. ↑ "Pools & Standings | World Rugby Nations Cup 2026". World Rugby Nations Cup. Retrieved 31 March 2026.
  4. ↑ "CANADA'S MEN'S RUGBY TEAM RETURNS TO EDMONTON TO KICK OFF WORLD RUGBY NATIONS CUP 2026". Rugby Canada. 2 April 2026. Retrieved 5 June 2026.
  5. ↑ Statement on the Nations Cup match between Chile and Georgia
  6. ↑ "Canada, Chile, Uruguay and USA all in 2026 World Rugby Nations Cup". Americas Rugby News. 17 November 2025. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  7. 1 2 "World Rugby Nations Cup heads to the Americas in July for inaugural 2026 edition". World Rugby. 31 March 2026. Retrieved 31 March 2026.
  8. ↑ "World Rugby Nations Cup to launch in July 2026 to transform international calendar | World Rugby". World Rugby.
  9. ↑ World Rugby boss Robinson hails Hong Kong’s ‘global influence’ at WXV announcement
  10. ↑ Everything you need to know about the World Rugby Nations Cup
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