Argentina is to play less in 2026 and 2030. SANZAAR has confirmed changes that mean there will be no Rugby Championship in these years. Instead of there being the annual competition, the competition will be replaced by New Zealand touring South Africa in 2026 and the reverse happening in 2030.
The reduction will his Argentina and Australia hard as both will lose out on test matches. Despite fixture not having been confirmed, ARN understands that Argentina and Australia are set to play each-other twice in 2026. Los Pumas will also face South Africa once but not play New Zealand at all. In short, Argentina will play three less matches than is the case in the Rugby Championship.
The change also brings with it increased fixtures ahead of Rugby World Cup 2027. As a balancing act for no Rugby Championship tournaments in 2026 or 2030, the 2027 Rugby Championship will not operate on a reduced format. That is to say, it will be a regular format of six matches per team rather than three as was the case in 2015, 2019 and 2023.
The Rugby World Cup 2027 has been moved to a later slot compared to recent editions of the tournament. Australia 2027 will kick-off on October 01 while France 2023 started on September 08, Japan 2019 started on September 20 and England 2015 started on September 18.
The Nations Championship has also been confirmed for 2026, 2028 and 2030. It will see Argentina hosting three matches in July, against Six Nations opponents, and touring in November to play the three other Six Nations teams. A Final will follow with matches of 6th vs 6th until 1st vs 1st across the Hemispheres. The Six teams from the South will include Japan with Fiji being the other non Rugby Championship competitor.
Argentina played Uruguay away in July 2024 and at home in July 2025. There will be no room for such fixtures in Nations Championship years. Both Chile and Uruguay have qualified for Rugby World Cup 2027 and are seeking increased Tier 1 opportunities. However, the new calendar means Argentina would only have room outside of the release window.
