England, Scotland and Wales prepare for blockbuster autumn Nations Championship clashes

The inaugural Nations Championship has already delivered three rounds of competitive international rugby, with some of the world’s leading teams going head-to-head during the opening summer fixtures.

France lead the Northern Hemisphere standings after the first three rounds, with Scotland just behind in second and England sitting third. Wales, meanwhile, will be looking to climb the table when the competition resumes in November.

With the summer section of the tournament complete, attention now turns to the autumn schedule. England, Scotland and Wales will each play three home fixtures against Southern Hemisphere opposition before all 12 competing nations head to London for the Nations Championship Finals Weekend.

The November rounds will therefore play a major role in determining the final Northern and Southern Hemisphere standings ahead of the tournament’s concluding weekend at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham.

England ready for huge Twickenham schedule

England responded strongly to a difficult start to their Nations Championship campaign during the summer.

Steve Borthwick’s side opened with a 45-21 defeat against South Africa at Ellis Park before producing an emphatic 73-8 victory against Fiji. They completed the opening section of the tournament with a hard-fought 31-24 win against Argentina in Santiago del Estero.

Those results leave England third in the Northern Hemisphere standings heading into the November fixtures.

England will now return to Allianz Stadium, Twickenham for three matches against Australia, Japan and New Zealand.

The autumn schedule begins when England face Australia on Sunday 8th November 2026, with kick-off at 15:10.

Japan then visit Twickenham on Saturday 14th November, kicking off at 16:40, before England conclude the league stage against New Zealand on Saturday 21st November at 14:10.

The meeting with the All Blacks promises to be one of the standout fixtures of the November programme, bringing two of international rugby’s most recognisable nations together ahead of the Finals Weekend.

Supporters planning to attend England’s three home matches can explore our England Nations Championship hospitality packages for the autumn fixtures at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham.

Wales prepare for three major Cardiff fixtures

Wales endured a difficult opening section of the Nations Championship but began their campaign with a 39-24 victory against Fiji at Cardiff City Stadium.

Steve Tandy’s side then travelled to Argentina, where they were beaten 35-21, before concluding their July schedule with a defeat against South Africa in Durban.

Wales now return to home soil for three Nations Championship fixtures at Principality Stadium as they look to improve their position in the Northern Hemisphere standings.

Their autumn programme begins against Japan on Saturday 7th November 2026, with kick-off at 16:40.

One week later, New Zealand arrive in Cardiff for a major encounter on Saturday 14th November at 14:10.

Wales then complete their league-stage campaign against Australia on Saturday 21st November, with the match kicking off at 20:10.

The meetings with New Zealand and Australia are set to be two of the biggest sporting occasions in Cardiff this autumn, while the opening fixture against Japan could also prove important as Wales look to build momentum before the Finals Weekend.

Further information on attending the three matches is available through our Wales Nations Championship hospitality page.

Scotland enter autumn fixtures in strong position

Scotland were one of the standout Northern Hemisphere teams during the opening three rounds and enter the autumn schedule sitting second in the table.

Gregor Townsend’s side began their campaign with an entertaining 47-38 victory against Argentina in Córdoba.

Scotland then produced a competitive performance against world champions South Africa in Pretoria, scoring four tries and earning a bonus point despite a 42-28 defeat.

Their summer programme ended with a 33-17 victory against Fiji at Scottish Gas Murrayfield, leaving Scotland just behind France in the Northern Hemisphere standings heading into November.

Scotland begin their autumn schedule against New Zealand at Scottish Gas Murrayfield on Saturday 7th November 2026, with kick-off at 14:10.

Australia visit Edinburgh on Sunday 15th November for a 15:10 kick-off before Scotland conclude the league stage against Japan on Saturday 21st November at 14:10.

With Scotland well placed after the opening three rounds, their matches against New Zealand, Australia and Japan could have a significant influence on their final position in the Northern Hemisphere table.

Supporters can find details for all three matches on our Scotland Nations Championship hospitality page.

What happens next in the Nations Championship?

The November fixtures make up rounds four, five and six of the Nations Championship, completing the league stage of the competition.

The six Northern Hemisphere nations – England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales – are competing in their own standings, while Argentina, Australia, Fiji, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa make up the Southern Hemisphere group.

Once the November rounds have been completed, the final positions in the two tables will determine the matches played during the Nations Championship Finals Weekend at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham.

The Finals Weekend takes place across Friday 27th, Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th November 2026, with teams facing the nation that finishes in the corresponding position in the opposite hemisphere.

That means the Northern Hemisphere’s sixth-placed side will face the Southern Hemisphere’s sixth-placed team, fifth will face fifth and so on, culminating in a meeting between the two table-toppers to decide the inaugural Nations Championship winner.

With France, Scotland and England currently occupying the leading Northern Hemisphere positions and three rounds still to play, there remains plenty at stake when international rugby returns in November.