Week 2 of the 2026 Nations Championship is played over the weekend of Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 November 2026. The northern hemisphere’s second round of fixtures in World Rugby’s new tournament brings a fresh set of cross-pool matches, with each Six Nations side hosting a different southern hemisphere opponent to the one they faced in Week 1. The tournament runs towards a climactic Finals Weekend at Allianz Stadium in London from 27 to 29 November.
What is the Nations Championship?
The Nations Championship is World Rugby’s new flagship men’s international competition, launched in 2026 and scheduled biennially outside Rugby World Cup years. It features 12 teams split into two pools of six: a “Northern” pool of England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales, and a “Southern” pool of Argentina, Australia, Fiji, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa. Each team plays every side in the opposing pool once, with three summer fixtures and three November fixtures. League standings after the six-match round robin determine the matchups in the season-ending Finals Weekend in London.
When is Nations Championship Week 2?
Week 2 is played on Saturday 14 November and Sunday 15 November 2026. Confirmed fixtures include England vs Japan at Allianz Stadium on Saturday 14 November, Scotland vs Australia at Scottish Gas Murrayfield, and matches involving Ireland, France, Italy and Wales against their designated southern opponents. Kick-off times run through the traditional autumn rugby slots, between 13:00 and 17:40 local time.
Where is Week 2 played?
Matches are hosted by the six Six Nations unions at their national stadiums: Allianz Stadium (London), Scottish Gas Murrayfield (Edinburgh), Principality Stadium (Cardiff), Aviva Stadium (Dublin), Stade de France (Saint-Denis) and Stadio Olimpico (Rome). The Finals Weekend is played exclusively at Allianz Stadium in London from Friday 27 to Sunday 29 November 2026.
Key Contenders
England’s clash with Japan offers a rebuilding Red Rose side the chance to bank a statement win, while Scotland vs Australia is a fixture steeped in history and is usually one of the tightest of the autumn. Ireland enters the tournament as one of the northern hemisphere’s highest-ranked teams and will be expected to challenge for the Grand Final, while France’s depth and attacking flair make them perennial contenders. New Zealand and South Africa remain the benchmark from the southern pool. The Week 2 fixtures often prove decisive in the final standings, as teams look to build on Week 1 results and consolidate their place in the race for top seedings.
How to Watch
In the United Kingdom and Ireland, TNT Sports holds exclusive live rights to Home Nations matches, with highlights on the BBC. Stan Sport covers every fixture in Australia, Sky Sport NZ in New Zealand, and SuperSport in South Africa. TF1 and France Télévisions share rights to France’s home matches. In the United States, ESPN+ streams every match, while Japan’s fixtures are shown on NHK and J Sports at home. World Rugby’s official streaming service provides an international fallback for viewers outside the primary rights territories.
History and Records
The 2026 edition is the first Nations Championship, launched after years of negotiation between World Rugby, the Six Nations Council and SANZAAR. It replaces the patchwork of autumn internationals and summer tours that had shaped the international calendar since 1996. The competition’s biennial format is designed to give the July and November test windows added structure and stakes, with the Finals Weekend standings used to rank all 12 nations.
Tickets and Attendance
Individual match tickets are sold by each host union through their own platforms. England vs Japan at Allianz Stadium typically opens at £30 for upper-tier seats with premium and hospitality options rising to several hundred pounds. Scotland vs Australia at Murrayfield and Ireland at the Aviva Stadium use similar pricing structures. Availability tightens closer to kick-off.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Nations Championship Week 2?
Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 November 2026.
Where are the Week 2 matches played?
At the home stadiums of the six Six Nations unions across Europe.
How can I watch the Nations Championship?
TNT Sports in the UK and Ireland, Stan Sport in Australia, Sky Sport NZ, SuperSport in South Africa, and ESPN+ in the United States.
What comes after the pool stage?
A three-day Finals Weekend at Allianz Stadium, London, from 27 to 29 November 2026, where teams play their equivalently ranked opponent from the other pool.