Scotland Nations Championship fixtures: dates, venues and opponents announced as All Blacks return to Murrayfield
Gregor Townsend’s side have found out their opponents for the inaugural edition of the competition.
With just one game left in the Quilter Nations Series, Scotland will have the chance to avenge some autumn defeats in July and November next year in a new-look tournament.
The worldwide competition, created through Six Nations Rugby and their Southern Hemisphere equivalent, SANZAAR, will help ensure that the world’s best international outfits can play each other more regularly, especially between hemispheres as Scotland’s agonising 17-25 defeat to New Zealand earlier this month was only their third encounter in the last decade. The Nations Championship will take place every two years, in an attempt to keep international rugby competitive when there is no World Cup or Lions Tour.
In the inaugural tournament, Scotland will have a quick chance to right the wrongs of their All Blacks defeat and will also play Argentina, who they blew a 21-0 lead against on Sunday afternoon. Townsend’s side will play six games in total, with at least half of them being at Murrayfield.
Scotland’s Nations Championship fixtures announced
After Sunday’s collapse, perhaps Townsend can take it as a positive that Scotland’s first Nations Championship fixture will be against Los Pumas, as they can avenge what was a monumental fall from grace at Murrayfield. The tournament opener will be the first time they’ve played in Argentina since the summer tour in July 2022. A week later, it’s the World Champions, as Townsend’s men aim to secure their first win against South Africa in fifteen years. The last away match will be against Fiji on July 18th, however where this match will be played is still to be confirmed.
For the autumn home clashes, first up is the All Blacks as Scotland have another chance to finally topple International rugby’s biggest powerhouse in early November, with the match set to take place on the weekend of the 6th-8th. A week later, they will welcome the Wallabies to Murrayfield, a side they have beaten in four of the last five meetings. The group campaign will conclude on 21st November against Japan.
If Scotland are successful in the group stage, they will qualify for the finals weekend at Twickenham, which will also take place in November 2026. The top-ranked Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere Nations will compete in the Championship final, with a chance to make history as the first ever winners.
Townsend relish opportunity to play ‘top quality sides’
The Scotland coach said: “the new Nations Championship creates a calendar that allows us to regularly play top quality sides. The competition element to the matches will also add something special. The matches next year are very exciting. We will need to manage the logistics of moving from Argentina to South Africa but it’s a challenge that Rugby Championship teams take on every year and will be one we will need to adapt to.
“We’ve not played in South Africa for a number of years so that’ll be an occasion to relish and look forward to. In November, playing three back-to-back games and then a final match to decide our final standing in the tournament is brilliant. It provides a Rugby World Cup feel during the season and when you add it onto the Six Nations you have a year of fixtures that will have our players excited, and also our supporters.”
Scottish Rugby CEO, Alex Williamson added: “playing in Argentina and South Africa and against Fiji next summer before hosting New Zealand, Australia and Japan at Scottish Gas Murrayfield is a challenge we are delighted to have. The finals weekend at the Allianz will be a unique spectacle and will make the incredible energy that has gone into bringing this tournament to life entirely worthwhile.”
Scotland’s Nations Championship fixtures (subject to change)
July 4: Argentina (a)
July 11: South Africa (a)
July 18: Fiji (a) (played in Europe)
Nov 6-8: New Zealand (h)
Nov 13-15: Australia (h)
Nov 21: Japan (h)
Nov 27-29: Finals Weekend (Twickenham)