Sanzaar and Six Nations join forces to launch new global rugby competition

The Six Nations and Sanzaar issued a joint statement on Saturday night revealing plans for a new global competition in 2026 in the existing July and November international rugby windows.

All Six Nations and Sanzaar teams – including the All Blacks – are involved and will be joined in the elite 12-team tournament by two invitational unions. It will culminate in a grand final between sides from the northern and southern hemishpheres.

The two global rugby bodies will own and run the new competition, with World Rugby creating a newly formed second-tier competition from 2030 to facilitate promotion and relegation matches.

“The creation of the new competition has been a collective process from the sport, including World Rugby, unions, key leagues, competitions, and crucially, the international rugby players,” a joint statement from Sanzaar and Six Nations said.

The European teams involved in the competition include England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales, with Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa the four representatives from the southern hemisphere.

Both those long-standing competitions will continue to be held annually.

“Set to begin in 2026, the new elite competition will feature all the Six Nations Rugby and Sanzaar teams, with two spaces reserved for invitational unions to join the southern hemisphere group.

“A transparent selection process will be managed by Sanzaar, supported by World Rugby and the international rugby players, to determine these two invitational unions.”

The statement confirmed the new tournament would take place in alternating years, outside of the British and Irish Lions tours and the four-yearly Rugby World Cup.

International rugby players have been involved in the development of the competition, it added.

“This connection has been key in supporting the wider conversations around the club and international calendar taking place in parallel, and ensuring player welfare has remained a fundamental priority in all decision-making.

“To strengthen the development pathway for emerging nations, World Rugby will create a second-tier competition that will feature teams from Europe and the rest of the world, with Six Nations Rugby and Sanzaar actively involved in cementing the link between the two divisions.

“Establishing the two competitions will pave the way for promotion and relegation matches, contributing towards a valuable pathway for teams, and will support ambitions to sustain and grow the global game.”