100 days to go as Nations Championship ticket sales surpass 100,000.

LONDON, ENGLAND – The Nations Championship trophy is photographed at Buckingham Palace to mark 100 Days to Go until the Nations Championship 2026 on August 13, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Nations Championship/Getty Images)

With 100 days to go, the countdown to the inaugural Nations Championship Finals Weekend has officially entered its decisive final stretch, with more than 100,000 tickets already sold for the landmark three-day festival of international rugby taking place at Allianz Stadium, London from 17-19 November.

The Finals Weekend will determine the dominant hemisphere in international rugby, bringing years of North versus South debate to a head through the awarding of the Nations Championship Hemisphere Trophy. It will also crown the world’s leading team in 2026, with the winner lifting the inaugural Nations Championship Trophy.

To mark the milestone, the Nations Championship Trophy has toured some of London’s most recognisable landmarks, including The Mall, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, St Paul’s Cathedral and The Shard. The images reflect London preparing to welcome the best international rugby teams to one of the sporting capitals of the world.

The innovative Nations Championship features the 12 strongest teams in international rugby, divided into Northern and Southern Hemisphere groups. A Southern Series of matches followed by a Northern Series, all featuring cross-hemisphere matches, will determine the table standings for each hemisphere group and therefore seedings for the Finals weekend at Allianz Stadium in London.

Part one – the Southern Series has been played with 18 matches hosted by the Southern Hemisphere. Part two – the Northern Series [7, 14 and 22 November] – will see a further 18 matches played across the UK, Ireland, France and Italy to determine the final hemisphere table standings.

In July the entertaining Southern Series cross-hemisphere matches gripped the attention of rugby fans worldwide with 109 tries scored and saw honours even between the hemispheres with the match tally finishing at nine wins apiece.

The Southern Hemisphere group is currently led by the competition’s only two unbeaten teams, South Africa and New Zealand, who have 15 points each after three matches. France leads the Northern Hemisphere group with two victories and 12 points, followed by Scotland on 11 points and England on 10, with both teams also recording two wins. Bonus points could ultimately prove decisive in determining the final standings.

Therefore, it is all to play for in November when the Southern Hemisphere teams head north. The Northern teams will have home advantage against the teams from the south but, at the same time, they will all be indirectly competing against each other within their hemisphere group to secure as many wins as possible in order to secure a spot in the Final.

Ultimately every fixture and victory matters. The teams finishing in corresponding positions across the Northern and Southern Hemisphere groups will face each other, creating six head-to-head contests across the Finals weekend at Allianz Stadium. The points awarded from each Finals match victory determining the dominant rugby hemisphere.

SANZAAR CEO Brendan Morris stated:

” The milestone of 100,000 tickets sold with 100 days remaining demonstrates the strong global interest in the Nations Championship and the unique spectacle the Finals Weekend will deliver. The July matches showed exactly why the Nations Championship has captured the imagination of players, fans and nations alike – intensity, rivalry and meaning in every contest – and now the stage is set for the ultimate North v South finale in London.”

“For the Southern Hemisphere nations, this is about more than a Finals Weekend, it is a chance to measure ourselves directly against the best of the North, on one stage, across one extraordinary weekend. SANZAAR will be backing the South in London, we have a proud record to defend given the southern hemisphere dominance of Rugby World Cup, and we know our teams, our players and our supporters will embrace the opportunity to make a powerful statement when the rugby world is watching.”

Tom Harrison, Six Nations Rugby CEO, added:

“The Nations Championship is establishing itself as a key pillar of the international rugby calendar and sporting landscape. July proved the strength of the new format, with teams highlighting just how exciting the sport can be, with fans responding and tuning in around the world. November stands to pick up where July left off, making the Northern Hemisphere the centre of attention for major sport.

The Finals Weekend will be a fitting finale to the tournament, and with 100 days to go and over 100,000 tickets already sold, anticipation is rightfully building to what will be an unmissable experience for players and fans.“

Koli Sewabu, Fiji Rakavi Football Union CEO commented:

“As CEO of Fiji Rugby, I want to acknowledge the reality of our July campaign. Three losses that stung, but they also taught us invaluable lessons about the pace, precision, and pressure required at this level. We don’t shy away from that record; we own it, and we’re using it as fuel.

Looking ahead, our November schedule against Ireland, France and Italy is undoubtedly one of the toughest assignments in world rugby. Improving our position ahead of the Finals Weekend will require a monumental effort, but that work begins now — not just in training, but in every tactical adjustment and every opportunity we take to rebuild confidence and cohesion.

We remain deeply grateful for the trust placed in us as a Nations Championship contender, and we are determined to finish our entry campaign on a high. To do that, we must be ruthless in seizing every preparation opportunity to ensure we arrive in London not just as participants, but as competitors capable of upsetting the odds.

Fiji has never been defined by a single loss, and we will not be defined by three. Our spirit, our flair, and our pride remain intact. We look forward to the Finals Weekend with respect for our opponents, but also with a quiet belief that our best rugby is still ahead of us.”

With more than 100,000 tickets already sold, fans are encouraged to secure their seats as the countdown to the Finals Weekend continues. Ticket options and price points have been designed to make the three-day festival accessible to the broadest possible range of supporters. Full ticket information and available options can be found on the official Nations Championship website.