Six Nations to be impacted by future rugby tournaments

World Rugby bosses confirmed this week that the sport would receive a radical shake-up of its traditional calendar. The formation of the new rugby tournament called the Nations Championship and a reformat of the current Rugby World Cup schedule will usher in a new dawn for the sport as it looks to grow its international reach, increase global revenue, and seek new opportunities.

World Rugby's Rugby World Cup changes will see the 2027 Rugby World Cup event increased from 20 to 24 teams that year. The tournament in 2027 will also be hosted between October 1 until November 13.

A round of 16 will also be introduced for the first time ever. Before this, there was only a quarter, semi, and final round. Details of the qualification process for Rugby World Cup 2027 will also be determined following a full review of France 2023 and consultation with respective unions and regions. 

The other new competition is the Nations Championship. It will consist of two divisions, each comprising 12 teams. Current Grand Slam champions Ireland, France, and other top sides will play against the likes of Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, with other countries like Fiji and Japan in contention too.

The second division will be made up of a further 12 international teams, with the new tournament being staged every two years in between World Cups and British and Irish Lions tours in November and July.

The new format also aims to give two-tier sides like Portugal and Georgia more opportunity to play against top opposition on a more regular basis. The tournament begins in two years’ time, with promotion and relegation only starting to feature in 2030.

Bill Beaumont on the transformative changes confirmed on Tuesday for the international game, including the expansion of the 2027 Rugby World Cup to 24 teams and the creation of a new bi-annual Nations League-style competition from 2026. #RWC2023 #WorldRugby pic.twitter.com/qEelVEkD0R

— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 24, 2023

On Tuesday, World Rugby chairman Sir Bill Beaumont admitted that it was time to grow the game outside of the current setup that has held it from growing like other sports.

Beaumont said: “It is fitting that we finish Rugby World Cup 2023, the sport’s greatest celebration of togetherness, with the sport’s greatest feat of togetherness. Agreement on the men’s and women’s global calendars and their content is the most significant development in the sport since the game went professional. An historic moment for our sport that sets us up collectively for success."

Although the changes will have a significant impact on the sport of rugby as Beaumont stated, this will also have an impact on the Six Nations. One of the two rest weekends is likely to be scrapped, with the tournament finishing up in six weeks instead of seven.

Beaumont admits that it is going to be an exciting era for the sport: “We now look forward to an exciting new era for our sport commencing in 2026. An era that will bring certainty and opportunity for all. An era that will support the many, not the few, and an era that will supercharge the development of the sport beyond its traditional and often self-imposed boundaries," Beaumont added.

Meanwhile, there will also be a first-ever dedicated international release window in the women’s game from 2026, with a review of the global calendar and competition structures promised in the future.

World Rugby have said there would be a "commitment to more effectively manage player load and welfare in the fast-evolving women’s game."

There is also the launch of a new annual expanded Pacific Nations Cup competition in 2024, featuring Canada, Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Tonga, and USA, which was also announced by World Rugby.

Summary