The Rugby and Football Union (RFU) believes the inaugural Nations Championship coming to Twickenham is one of the most exciting modern developments in international Rugby.
The Allianz stadium in Twickenham will host the first Nations Championship finals this month, with 12 of the world’s top rugby teams heading to London for six matches in three days.
The tournament, which began in July, pits England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales from the northern hemisphere against Argentina, Australia, Fiji, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa from the south.
Held every two years, it sees each side play three matches in July and three in November.
An RFU spokesperson said: “The Nations Championship has the potential to be one of the most important developments in international rugby since the game turned professional.
“It’s started very well and the games have been attractive and highly competitive.”
England began with a 45-21 defeat by South Africa at Ellis Park in Johannesburg, before beating Fiji 73-8 and Argentina 31-24.
That leaves them third in the northern table on 10 points, one behind Scotland and two behind leaders France.
South Africa and New Zealand lead the way with 15 points each in the southern table.
Every result counts towards a table that sets who plays who at the finals, which will settle the balance of power between the hemispheres.
As things stand, England would meet Australia, currently third in the south, on the opening Friday.
England have three home games to come, all at Allianz Stadium – Australia on Sunday 8 November (3.10pm), Japan on 14 November (4.40pm) and New Zealand on 21 November (2.10pm).
Supporters can track England’s progress and the scenarios in each fixture, with the spokesperson adding: “This creates excitement for each match-up, and we believe that excitement is already showing, with each of England’s pool stage fixtures now sold-out.”
Of the stakes, they said: “In the Nations Championship, every point, result, and match matters to every team, as they compete to win rugby’s newest title.”
The Finals Weekend runs from 27 to 29 November at Twickenham, with two matches being played each day.
Each northern side meets the southern team ranked in the same position: sixth v sixth and third v third on Friday, fifth v fifth and second v second on Saturday, and fourth v fourth and the Grand Final, first v first, on Sunday.
The spokesperson said: “No other competition in professional sport brings together the leading international teams to compete in one location, over one weekend.
“The very best players our sport has to offer will travel to London, and we are honoured to host the inaugural Finals weekend at Allianz Stadium.”
Featured image credit: Christophe95 via Wikimedia Commons under CC BY-SA 4.0 licence
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