South Africa are three from three. The Boks put 45 on England at Ellis Park, 42 on Scotland at Loftus Versfeld and 43 on Wales at Hollywoodbets Kings Park without conceding a point in Durban, and they finished the July window top of the Southern Hemisphere pool with 130 points scored and 49 conceded (ESPN).
That is the July half of the inaugural Nations Championship done. Europe is next: Italy in Turin on 7 November, France in Paris on 13 November, Ireland in Dublin on 21 November, then finals weekend at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham from 27 to 29 November (Nations Championship).
Below: the full November fixture list in SAST, how finals weekend actually works, and the markets worth a look now that we have form to price off.
State of Play After the July Window
Halfway through the league phase, the Boks have a maximum return from their three home Tests and sit top of the Southern Hemisphere pool. The margin grew every week: 24 clear of England at altitude, 14 clear of Scotland at Loftus, then 43 without reply against Wales in Durban.
Scotland's 28 at Loftus was the only afternoon that felt like a contest. The clean sheet in Durban is the number that travels to Europe with them.
The Other July Results That Matter
The rest of the July window was messier than the Boks made it look. Japan beat Italy 27-10, Scotland put 47 on Argentina, and Ireland won 33-31 in Australia and then lost 40-21 in New Zealand a fortnight later (BBC).
Japan 27 Italy 10
Australia 31 Ireland 33
Fiji 24 Wales 39
Argentina 38 Scotland 47
Japan 15 France 42
Australia 57 Italy 10
Fiji 17 Scotland 33
One thing to keep straight: the Boks' August and September Tests against the All Blacks are not part of this competition. That tour has its own page, Springboks vs All Blacks 2026.
On this page
What Is the Nations Championship?
The Nations Championship is 12 teams in one global table: the six Six Nations sides, the four SANZAAR sides, plus Japan and Fiji as invitational entries. It is played inside the existing July and November windows, and it ends with a finals weekend in London. Before it existed, the Six Nations and the Rugby Championship ran as separate hemispheric competitions with no cross-hemisphere table.
Read the small print here, because plenty of people got it wrong in July. The Nations Championship replaces the old November tour structure. It does not replace the Rugby Championship, which carries on as its own competition, and South Africa won that back to back in 2025 by beating Argentina 29-27 at Allianz Stadium (BBC).
Points work the way they do across most of international rugby: 4 for a win, 2 for a draw, nothing for a loss, with bonus points in play as well. The table then decides who meets whom on finals weekend at Twickenham.
South Africa's November Away Fixtures
This is the half of the tournament that still matters, and the times are fixed, so set your alarms now. The Boks get Italy in Turin at a civilised 13:40 SAST, then two late ones: France in Paris at 22:10 on a Friday, and Ireland in Dublin at 18:40 (Nations Championship).
Italy vs South Africa, Turin, Saturday 7 November
Allianz Stadium in Turin, 13:40 SAST. Italy had a rough July, beaten 27-10 by Japan and 57-10 in Australia, so on form this is the softest of the three away Tests. The kick-off time is also the friendliest of the three for an SA living room.
France vs South Africa, Paris, Friday 13 November
Stade de France, 22:10 SAST on a Friday night. France went to New Zealand in July and lost 34-32, then beat Japan 42-15, so they arrive in decent order. This is the hardest fixture on the Boks' November card and the market will price it close.
Ireland vs South Africa, Dublin, Saturday 21 November
Aviva Stadium, 18:40 SAST, final round. Ireland won 33-31 in Australia in July and then lost 40-21 in New Zealand, which tells you they travel well and still have a ceiling. Dublin in late November with table position on the line is the Test of the window.
Full November Fixture List, All Times SAST
Every Round 4, 5 and 6 fixture, converted to South African time. Springboks matches are in bold.
Round 4, 6 to 8 November
Round 5, 13 to 15 November
Round 6, Saturday 21 November
Finals Weekend at Twickenham
Finals weekend runs Friday 27 to Sunday 29 November 2026, all of it at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham. Teams are paired by finishing position, so the opener on the Friday is the 6th-placed North side against the 6th-placed South side, and the pairings work up the table from there (Nations Championship). Three rounds still to play, so we are not calling who makes which final.
Teams are paired by table position after 6 rounds. The first match, on Friday 27 November, is 6th North against 6th South.
Twickenham is England's home ground, which makes "neutral venue" a generous description. The championship final between the top-placed northern and southern sides is the headline match of the weekend, and the lower finals run alongside it across the Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Outright and finals-matchup markets are live at the SA books now that half the league phase is played. Prices move on every November result, so compare across operators before you commit rather than taking the first number you see.
All 12 Teams
The field is the Six Nations plus the four SANZAAR sides, with Japan and Fiji added as invitational entries. Twelve teams, one table, both hemispheres.
Southern Hemisphere
Northern Hemisphere
Japan and Fiji are the invitational pair, and July suggested neither is here to make up numbers. Japan beat Italy 27-10 in Round 1, and Fiji scored 24 against Wales and 17 against Scotland. They are the two sides most likely to turn a routine-looking November fixture into a bad afternoon for a Six Nations team.
Betting Markets
Half the league phase is in the book, so these markets now have real form behind them. Here's how the SA licensed operators are framing the tournament.
Best Bookmakers for Nations Championship Betting
These five licensed SA operators provide the strongest Nations Championship coverage across tournament winner, match, and in-play markets.
Some operators pay for featured placement, which is always disclosed.
See the best rugby betting sites in South Africa for a full comparison, or browse all 48 licensed SA bookmakers.
What Is Confirmed
July window complete, November schedule locked in
Nothing has changed since the July window closed. The November dates, kick-off times and venues are published, including Turin for the Italy Test, which had no confirmed venue pre-season. Finals weekend is locked for Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, from 27 to 29 November 2026.
We update this page as each November round is played.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Nations Championship in rugby?
The Nations Championship is a new global rugby union tournament featuring 12 teams: the six Six Nations sides (England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, Wales), the four SANZAAR sides (South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Argentina) and invitational Japan and Fiji. It is played across the existing July and November windows, with finals weekend in London. It replaces the old November tour structure, not the Rugby Championship.
How did South Africa do in the July 2026 window?
South Africa won all three July home matches: 45-21 against England at Ellis Park on 4 July, 42-28 against Scotland at Loftus Versfeld on 11 July, and 43-0 against Wales at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on 18 July. They are unbeaten after three rounds with 130 points scored and 49 conceded, and they top the Southern Hemisphere pool.
Who do South Africa play in November 2026?
Three away Tests, all times SAST: Italy at Allianz Stadium in Turin on Saturday 7 November at 13:40, France at the Stade de France in Paris on Friday 13 November at 22:10, and Ireland at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Saturday 21 November at 18:40.
Does the Nations Championship replace the Rugby Championship?
No. The Nations Championship replaces the old November tour structure and slots into the existing July and November windows. The Rugby Championship carries on. South Africa won back-to-back Rugby Championship titles in 2025, beating Argentina 29-27 at Allianz Stadium.
Where is the Nations Championship final?
Finals weekend runs from Friday 27 to Sunday 29 November 2026 at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, in London. Teams are paired by table position, so the first match on Friday 27 November is the 6th-placed North side against the 6th-placed South side.
How many teams are in the Nations Championship?
12 teams: South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Argentina, Fiji and Japan from the south, plus England, France, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Italy from the Six Nations.
How do you qualify for the Nations Championship finals?
There is no knockout qualifying. Teams are ranked after the six rounds, three in July and three in November, and are then paired by finishing position for finals weekend at Twickenham from 27 to 29 November 2026.
Where can I bet on the Nations Championship in South Africa?
All major licensed South African bookmakers carry Nations Championship betting, including Betway, Hollywoodbets, World Sports Betting, Sportingbet and 10Bet. Markets include tournament winner, table position, match result, handicap and try scorer options on every fixture. See the best rugby betting sites guide for comparisons.
Related Pages
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