Nations Championship: Fixtures, standings and Ireland’s chances
The inaugural Nations Championship rugby tournament is at its halfway point, with Ireland preparing to face Argentina at the Aviva Stadium. The competition features 12 nations divided into two geographical groups, culminating in a series of playoff matches in Twickenham at the end of November.
Why it matters
This tournament represents a significant structural shift in international rugby, aiming to create a more competitive and structured global calendar.
The inaugural Nations Championship tournament resumes on Friday when Ireland host Argentina at the Aviva Stadium (kick-off 8.10pm).
The competition is at the halfway point of the group stages, with three rounds to be played over the coming weeks followed by a final weekend of playoffs at the end of the month.
The 12 participating nations have been divided into two geographical groups of six, with the countries that contest the Six Nations – Ireland, England , Scotland , Wales , France and Italy – making up the northern hemisphere group.
They face the six teams from the rest of the world – New Zealand , South Africa , Australia , Argentina, Fiji and Japan
At the end of the six rounds, each team is ranked from first to sixth in their respective group. In the playoffs, each team plays the side with their corresponding rank from the other group.
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