Tours to Replace Rugby Championship in Major Shake-Up
- Major changes are coming to the Rugby Championship, with the current format set to be disrupted in the next few years
- South African rugby fans can look forward to a blockbuster series featuring their fiercest rivals in 2026
- A new global competition is on the horizon and promises to shake up the traditional Test calendar.
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The Rugby Championship, long a centrepiece of southern hemisphere rugby, is set for a dramatic break from tradition. South Africa’s current title defence could be the last under the existing format for several years.
Source: Getty Images
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the competition will not take place in 2026 or 2028, while 2027 will feature only a shortened version due to the Rugby World Cup. The full Championship structure is expected to return only in 2029.
This comes at a time when the tournament has been enjoying renewed interest, particularly with the introduction of the “mini-tour” system in 2022, which allowed back-to-back Tests in one country and created fresh rivalries and storylines.
All Blacks to tour South Africa in 2026
Instead of the annual tournament, 2026 will see the All Blacks embark on a blockbuster seven-match tour of South Africa.
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The New Zealanders will face the Bulls, Stormers, Sharks and Lions, in addition to three Tests against the Springboks. Reports also suggest a possible fourth Test could take place in Europe.
Similar Sanzaar-led tours are already planned for 2028, offering a return to a more old-fashioned touring model that many believe adds depth and spectacle to international rugby.
Nations' championship to change global calendar
Overlaying these changes is the introduction of the Nations Championship in 2026. This new global competition will feature 12 teams from both hemispheres, culminating in a finals weekend in November.
While the format promises higher stakes and greater commercial appeal, it will reduce the number of traditional July inbound tours from northern hemisphere sides, long regarded as a highlight of the southern rugby calendar.
Source: UGC
Springboks face new era of competition
For the Springboks, the changes mark the end of a gruelling but familiar cycle. This year alone, they hosted the Wallabies for two Tests and clashed with the All Blacks in another bruising two-match series.
The transition to tours and the Nations Championship could reshape the way fans experience rugby, blending nostalgia for historic tours with the global ambitions of a new world competition.
How this season's Championship is looking like?
With just two rounds remaining, the tournament is wide open. Australia lead the table with 11 points, while South Africa and New Zealand sit close behind on 10, and Argentina remain in contention on 9.
Australia: 11 points
South Africa: 10 points
New Zealand: 10 points
Argentina: 9 points
The margins are so fine that any of the four nations could still claim the trophy.
Rassie Erasmus shrugs off injury setbacks
Briefly News previously reported that Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus praised South Africa’s player depth despite being dealt a series of injury blows.
The Boks emerged from their resounding win over New Zealand in Wellington with several casualties, including Aphelele Fassi, Lood de Jager, and Jean-Luc du Preez.
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Source: Briefly News
