The announcement of a new agreement for quadrennial tours between New Zealand and South Africa, starting in 2026, has raised questions about the future of The Rugby Championship in southern hemisphere rugby. Following a historic rivalry, which recently saw one of the greatest Rugby World Cup finals, reports from early September indicated that both New Zealand Rugby (NZR) and the South African Rugby Union (SARU) were moving towards making separate arrangements, sidelining their SANZAAR partners, Rugby Australia and the Unión Argentina de Rugby.
As part of their agreement, South Africa will host in 2026 and New Zealand in 2030, with the upcoming tours featuring the All Blacks competing against the four South African United Rugby Championship teams—the Lions, Sharks, Bulls, and Stormers—alongside a match against South Africa A and three Test matches against the reigning world champions, the Springboks. This tour will mark New Zealand’s first complete tour of South Africa in thirty years.
Confusion surrounds the status of The Rugby Championship during these tour years, with varying reports. NZR has expressed a preference to skip the Championship in the years of these tours, whereas SARU has signaled a desire to play a single round, similar to arrangements made in Rugby World Cup years. SARU CEO Rian Oberholzer indicated that while The Rugby Championship would still occur, it would be limited, adding that if it doesn’t happen, they would consider one-off Test matches against Argentina and Australia.
As NZR plans to maintain two Bledisloe Cup fixtures in both 2026 and 2030, it seems unusual for them to engage in matches against SANZAAR nations without including them in The Rugby Championship records. The situation remains fluid, with further details yet to be clarified.
SANZAAR has not commented on its potential role in discussions between NZR and SARU regarding the tours or The Rugby Championship’s implications, stating the complexity of new broadcasting cycles starting in 2026, including the Nations Championship. Discussions about the future structure of The Rugby Championship will take time to finalize.
From the perspective of Rugby Australia, Chairman Daniel Herbert referenced the idea of compensation for potential missed fixtures against South Africa and New Zealand, suggesting that the economic benefits from the new tours could materialize.
Some commentators speculate that not playing The Rugby Championship during tour years could benefit Rugby Australia and the Asociación Argentina de Rugby, as they face significant scheduling gaps. Ideas have surfaced about potentially including teams like Japan and Fiji in The Rugby Championship during these periods, particularly given Japan’s popularity and Fiji’s recent rise in the rankings.
A recent podcast discussion among rugby enthusiasts highlighted the potential appeal of such inclusions, with suggestions that matches in Fiji might attract large crowds due to the fervent local fanbase. Both rugby commentators and fans alike see merit in expanding the Championship to include these teams, especially given their unique playing styles that could create engaging matchups.
While Fiji’s national team has been improving, bolstered by domestic players, the idea of hosting international matches against top-tier teams presents both economic opportunities and a chance to further develop the sport locally.
In conclusion, the future of The Rugby Championship remains uncertain, especially concerning the new tour agreements between New Zealand and South Africa. However, discussions about possible expansions and adaptations are underway, with potential new formats that could include emerging rugby nations on the horizon.