India, July 4 -- World Rugby have officially begun a monumental new era for the sport of rugby union, with the eagerly awaited first-ever Rugby Nations Championship 2026 commencing with round one fixtures this weekend, on June 4, 2026. Shifting the traditional landscape of the globe's great sporting occasions, this brand new biennial competition pits together twelve of the world's greatest rugby powers under a shared competitive banner.

The action, scheduled throughout the mid-year and year-end international windows, hopes to reduce detached test matches, and put the process for crowning a champion in place. Led by reigning back-to-back World Cup winners, South Africa, and a roster of the globe's rugby elite across the North and South, t...