The 2026 Nations Championship Southern Hemisphere Series was the first phase of matches (rounds 1–3) of the inaugural edition of the Nations Championship, a biennial international men's rugby union competition between the Six Nations sides, SANZAAR, Fiji and Japan.
The Southern Hemisphere Series took place between 4 July and 18 July, during the July International window. The matches replaced the traditional test series' between the travelling Six Nations sides to the SANZAAR nations and surrounding Tier 2 nations in the Pacific Islands, North America and Japan.
Championship division: Tables The below shows the tables for the two conferences for the Southern Hemisphere Series.
Northern Hemisphere
Southern Hemisphere
Fixtures Southern Hemisphere teams, apart from Fiji, all hosted their matches. All three of Fiji's "home" matches are played in Great Britain. Japan only hosted two of their three matches, with their Round 2 match against Ireland played in Australia.
Round 1
FB 15Damian McKenzieRW 14Will JordanOC 13Quinn Tupaea IC 12Jordie BarrettLW 11Caleb Clarke FH 10Ruben Love SH 9 Cam Roigard N8 8 Ardie Savea (c)OF 7 Luke JacobsonBF 6 Peter Lakai RL 5 Sam DarryLL 4 Josh Lord TP 3 Fletcher Newell HK 2 Codie Taylor LP 1 Ethan de Groot Substitutions:HK 16Asafo Aumua PR 17Xavier Numia PR 18Tyrel Lomax LK 19Jamie Hannah BR 20Wallace Sititi SH 21Cortez Ratima CE 22Billy Proctor WG 23Fehi Fineanganofo Coach: Dave Rennie FB 15Max Spring RW 14Damian PenaudOC 13Fabien Brau-Boirie IC 12Yoram MoefanaLW 11Théo AttissogbeFH 10Matthieu JalibertSH 9 Maxime Lucu (c) N8 8 Marko GazzottiOF 7 Oscar JégouBF 6 Pierre Bochaton RL 5 Tom Staniforth LL 4 Hugo AuradouTP 3 Demba Bamba HK 2 Maxime Lamothe LP 1 Jefferson Poirot Substitutions:HK 16Barnabé Massa PR 17Reda Wardi PR 18Régis Montagne LK 19Mickaël Guillard BR 20Killian Tixeront SH 21Nolann Le Garrec FH 22Antoine Hastoy CE 23Nicolas Depoortère Coach: Fabien Galthié Player of the Match: Cam Roigard (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Christophe Ridley (England) Katsuki Furuse (Japan) Television match official: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa) Foul play review officer: Ben Whitehouse (Wales) Notes: Fehi Fineanganofo, Jamie Hannah, Xavier Numia (all New Zealand), Barnabé Massa and Tom Staniforth (both France) made their international debuts. New Zealand retained the Dave Gallaher Trophy for a record 14th time.
FB 15Takurō MatsunagaRW 14Kazuma UedaOC 13Dylan RileyIC 12Yuya HiroseLW 11Kippei IshidaFH 10Ryūnosuke ItōSH 9 Naoto Saitō N8 8 Jack CornelsenOF 7 Kanji Shimokawa BF 6 Ben Gunter RL 5 Warner Dearns (c)LL 4 Harry Hockings TP 3 Shuhei Takeuchi HK 2 Mamoru Harada LP 1 Takato Okabe Substitutions:HK 16Hayate Era PR 17Sojiro Otsuka PR 18Keijiro Tamefusa LK 19Michael Stolberg BR 20Michael Leitch BR 21Tiennan Costley SH 22Itsuki Kamimura FH 23Sam GreeneCoach: Eddie Jones FB 15Lorenzo Pani RW 14Malik FaissalOC 13Ignacio Brex IC 12Tommaso MenoncelloLW 11Monty IoaneFH 10Paolo GarbisiSH 9 Stephen Varney N8 8 Lorenzo CannoneOF 7 Michele Lamaro (c)BF 6 Alessandro Ortombina RL 5 Andrea ZamboninLL 4 Niccolò Cannone TP 3 Marco Riccioni HK 2 Tommaso Di Bartolomeo LP 1 Danilo Fischetti Substitutions:HK 16Gianmarco Lucchesi PR 17Mirco Spagnolo PR 18Muhamed Hasa LK 19Riccardo Favretto BR 20Ross Vintcent SH 21Alessandro Fusco CE 22Leonardo Marin FH 23Tommaso Allan Coach: Gonzalo Quesada Player of the Match: Ben Gunter (Japan)
Assistant referees: Luc Ramos (France) Sam Grove-White (Scotland) Television match official: Ian Tempest (England) Foul play review officer: Andrew Jackson (England) Notes: Ryūnosuke Itō, Itsuki Kamimura, Sojiro Otsuka, Michael Stolberg (all Japan), Malik Faissal and Alessandro Ortombina (both Italy) made their international debuts. This was Japan's largest win (by margin) over Italy and any tier-one team, equaling their previous best of 34–17 against Italy in 2018.
FB 15Jock Campbell RW 14Max JorgensenOC 13Joseph Sua'ali'iIC 12Len IkitauLW 11Dylan PietschFH 10Carter Gordon SH 9 Ryan Lonergan N8 8 Harry Wilson (c)OF 7 Fraser McReightBF 6 Rob Valetini RL 5 Josh Canham LL 4 Jeremy WilliamsTP 3 Allan Alaalatoa HK 2 Josh Nasser LP 1 Angus Bell Substitutions:HK 16Brandon Paenga-Amosa PR 17James Slipper PR 18Taniela Tupou LK 19Lachlan Shaw BR 20Tom Hooper SH 21Tate McDermott FH 22Ben Donaldson FB 23Tom Wright Coach: Joe Schmidt FB 15Hugo KeenanRW 14Jimmy O'BrienOC 13Garry Ringrose IC 12Stuart McCloskeyLW 11Jamie Osborne FH 10Sam PrendergastSH 9 Jamison Gibson-ParkN8 8 Jack ConanOF 7 Josh van der Flier BF 6 Cian Prendergast RL 5 James RyanLL 4 Joe McCarthyTP 3 Tadhg Furlong HK 2 Dan Sheehan (c) LP 1 Tom O'Toole Substitutions:HK 16Rónan Kelleher PR 17Jeremy Loughman PR 18Tom Clarkson LK 19Tadhg Beirne BR 20Nick Timoney SH 21Craig CaseyFH 22Ciarán Frawley CE 23Bundee Aki Coach: Andy Farrell Player of the Match: Hugo Keenan (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (England) Andrea Piardi (Italy) Television match official: Matteo Liperini (Italy) Foul play review officer: Glenn Newman (New Zealand) Notes: Lachlan Shaw (Australia) made his international debut. Ireland retained the Lansdowne Cup and surpassed Australia for the most trophy wins (nine), and extended their record win-streak over Australia from five to six. Ireland's 33 points was the most they had scored against Australia away from home, surpassing the 27 they scored on their 1979 Summer tour.
FB 15Salesi RayasiRW 14Selestino Ravutaumada OC 13Semi Radradra IC 12Josua TuisovaLW 11Jiuta WainiqoloFH 10Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula SH 9 Frank Lomani N8 8 Elia CanakaivataOF 7 Kitione Salawa Jr.BF 6 Pita Gus Sowakula RL 5 Temo MayanavanuaLL 4 Isoa Nasilasila TP 3 Tim Hoyt HK 2 Tevita Ikanivere (c) LP 1 Eroni Mawi Substitutions:HK 16Zuriel Togiatama PR 17Livai Natave PR 18Peni Ravai LK 19Mesake Vocevoce BR 20Peceli Yato SH 21Simione Kuruvoli CE 22Vilimoni Botitu WG 23Kalaveti Ravouvou Coach: Senirusi Seruvakula FB 15Blair MurrayRW 14Louis Rees-Zammit OC 13Eddie JamesIC 12Joe HawkinsLW 11Josh AdamsFH 10Dan Edwards SH 9 Tomos WilliamsN8 8 Aaron Wainwright OF 7 Jac MorganBF 6 Alex Mann RL 5 Adam BeardLL 4 Ben CarterTP 3 Dillon Lewis HK 2 Dewi Lake (c) LP 1 Rhys Carré Substitutions:HK 16Ryan Elias PR 17Nicky Smith PR 18Ben Warren BR 19Taine Plumtree BR 20James Botham SH 21Kieran HardyFH 22Sam Costelow WG 23Ellis Mee Coach: Steve Tandy Player of the Match: Jac Morgan (Wales)
Assistant referees: Matthew Carley (England) Hollie Davidson (Scotland) Television match official: Leo Colgan (Ireland) Foul play review officer: Mike Adamson (Scotland) Notes: Ben Warren (Wales) made his international debut.
FB 15Damian WillemseRW 14Cheslin KolbeOC 13Jesse KrielIC 12Damian de AllendeLW 11Kurt-Lee Arendse FH 10Manie LibbokSH 9 Grant Williams N8 8 Jasper Wiese BF 7 Cameron Hanekom OF 6 Paul de Villiers RL 5 Ruan NortjéLL 4 Pieter-Steph du Toit (c)TP 3 Thomas du Toit HK 2 Malcolm Marx LP 1 Ox Nché Substitutions:HK 16Jan-Hendrik Wessels PR 17Gerhard Steenekamp PR 18Zach Porthen BR 19Marco van Staden BR 20Ben-Jason Dixon SH 21Cobus Reinach CE 22André Esterhuizen WG 23Canan Moodie Coach: Rassie Erasmus FB 15Marcus SmithRW 14Immanuel Feyi-WabosoOC 13Tommy Freeman IC 12Seb AtkinsonLW 11Cadan Murley FH 10Fin SmithSH 9 Jack van Poortvliet N8 8 Ben EarlOF 7 Tom Curry BF 6 Ollie ChessumRL 5 George Martin LL 4 Alex Coles TP 3 Joe Heyes HK 2 Jamie George (c) LP 1 Ellis Genge Substitutions:HK 16Luke Cowan-Dickie PR 17Beno Obano PR 18Asher Opoku-Fordjour LK 19Charlie Ewels BR 20Guy Pepper BR 21Henry Pollock SH 22Alex Mitchell FH 23Henry Slade Coach: Steve Borthwick Player of the Match: Damian Willemse (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Andrew Brace (Ireland) Pierre Brousset (France) Television match official: Richard Kelly (New Zealand) Foul play review officer: Olly Hodges (Ireland) Notes: Paul de Villiers (South Africa) made his international debut. Cheslin Kolbe and Damian Willemse (both South Africa) earned their 50th test caps.
FB 15Santiago CarrerasRW 14Rodrigo Isgró OC 13Lucio CintiIC 12Faustino Sánchez Valarolo LW 11Mateo CarrerasFH 10Tomás AlbornozSH 9 Gonzalo García N8 8 Joaquín OviedoOF 7 Santiago Grondona BF 6 Pablo Matera RL 5 Matías Alemanno LL 4 Guido PettiTP 3 Pedro Delgado HK 2 Julián Montoya (c)LP 1 Mayco Vivas Substitutions:HK 16Ignacio Ruiz PR 17Boris Wenger PR 18Tomas Rapetti LK 19Franco Molina BR 20Joaquín Moro SH 21Agustín Moyano CE 22Matías Moroni WG 23Bautista Delguy Coach: Felipe Contepomi FB 15Kyle RoweRW 14Kyle Steyn OC 13Rory HutchinsonIC 12Sione Tuipulotu (c)LW 11Jamie Dobie FH 10Tom Jordan SH 9 Ben White N8 8 Jack Dempsey OF 7 Rory DargeBF 6 Matt FagersonRL 5 Scott CummingsLL 4 Jonny Gray TP 3 Elliot Millar Mills HK 2 Ewan Ashman LP 1 Pierre Schoeman Substitutions:HK 16Gregor Hiddleston PR 17Rory Sutherland PR 18Zander Fagerson LK 19Alex Samuel LK 20Gregor Brown SH 21George Horne FH 22Fergus Burke WG 23Darcy Graham Coach: Gregor Townsend Player of the Match: Sione Tuipulotu (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Paul Williams (New Zealand) Jordan Way (Australia) Television match official: Brett Cronan (Australia) Foul play review officer: Eric Gauzins (France) Notes: Gregor Hiddleston (Scotland) made his international debut. Matías Alemanno became the fifth Argentinean player to play 100 test caps. Scotland's 47 points was the most they had scored in Argentina, surpassing the 44 they scored against Argentina on their 2018 Autumn tour.
Round 2
FB 15Damian McKenzieRW 14Will JordanOC 13Billy ProctorIC 12Jordie Barrett LW 11 Leroy Carter FH 10Ruben LoveSH 9 Cam Roigard N8 8 Ardie Savea (c) OF 7 Luke Jacobson BF 6 Wallace SititiRL 5 Tupou Vaa'iLL 4 Sam DarryTP 3 Tyrel Lomax HK 2 Codie Taylor LP 1 Ethan de Groot Substitutions:HK 16Samisoni Taukei'aho PR 17George Bower PR 18Pasilio Tosi LK 19Josh Lord BR 20Anton Segner SH 21Cortez Ratima CE 22Anton Lienert-Brown WG 23Josh Moorby Coach: Dave Rennie FB 15Tommaso Allan RW 14Malik Faissal OC 13Ignacio BrexIC 12Tommaso MenoncelloLW 11Louis LynaghFH 10Paolo GarbisiSH 9 Stephen VarneyN8 8 Lorenzo Cannone OF 7 Michele Lamaro (c) BF 6 Ross Vintcent RL 5 Andrea Zambonin LL 4 Niccolò Cannone TP 3 Marco Riccioni HK 2 Tommaso Di Bartolomeo LP 1 Danilo Fischetti Substitutions:HK 16Gianmarco Lucchesi PR 17Mirco Spagnolo PR 18Muhamed Hasa BR 19Giulio Marini LK 20Federico Ruzza LK 21Riccardo Favretto SH 22Alessandro Garbisi CE 23Leonardo Marin Coach: Gonzalo Quesada Player of the Match: Will Jordan (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Nic Berry (Australia) Luke Pearce (England) Television match official: Ben Whitehouse (Wales) Foul play review officer: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa) Notes: Josh Moorby, Anton Segner (both New Zealand) and Giulio Marini (Italy) made their international debuts. Tyrel Lomax (New Zealand) earned this 50th test cap. Will Jordan scored his 50th test try, surpassing Doug Howlett's 49 tries to become the All Blacks' top try scorer. This was the most points Italy has scored against New Zealand in New Zealand, surpassing the 10 points scored in 2002.