England Starts Nations Cup vs Fiji, South Africa, Argentina

England is preparing to start their first Nations Cup campaign next summer with games against Fiji, South Africa, and Argentina. Plans are in progress to hold the England versus Fiji match at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium in London. After playing Fiji at home, England will travel to South Africa and Argentina for away matches.

The Nations Cup is scheduled to take place every two years, except during years with the Rugby World Cup or British and Irish Lions tours. In the autumn following the summer matches, England will host New Zealand, Australia, and Japan before the tournament concludes with a grand final.

The top division of the Nations Cup will likely include teams from the Six Nations, the Rugby Championship sides, as well as Japan and Fiji, though their participation is yet to be officially confirmed. While the Six Nations and Rugby Championship will continue as normal, the summer and autumn windows will feature each country playing the six other teams in the Nations Cup. Three matches will take place in July and another three in November.

The results from these matches will be combined into a table, and the team with the most points at the end will be declared the winner after a final weekend at the end of November. To reduce travel strain, some teams may play their home games on neutral grounds. Fiji is reportedly open to playing their home match in Europe because many of their players compete in northern hemisphere clubs.

Holding the Fiji match at Twickenham could draw large crowds and provide a financial boost. The Nations Cup was officially announced by World Rugby in October 2023, with the first tournament set for 2026. From 2030 onwards, relegation and promotion between divisions will be introduced.

This new competition aims to increase the number of competitive matches between top rugby nations and expand the international calendar beyond the traditional tournaments. England’s upcoming Nations Cup matches will offer strong competition and valuable experience as they prepare for future rugby events.

Final details about match dates and venues are still being worked out, but sources indicate Twickenham is a likely location for the Fiji game. Fans can expect more news and updates soon.