The broadcast and streaming schedule for the Southern Hemisphere series (18 matches in total, including 3 matches for the Japanese national team) of the Nations Championship, the world's premier rugby international tournament which will be established in 2026 and held every two years, has been decided by WOWOW.
The Nations Championship is a cross-country tournament featuring two groups of six countries: one representing the Northern Hemisphere (England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, France, and Italy), and the other representing the Southern Hemisphere (New Zealand, Australia, Argentina, and South Africa), plus Japan and Fiji. The 2026 tournament will be held in July (18 matches) and November (24 matches), with each country playing a total of seven matches: against the six countries in the opposite group, plus the Finals Weekend to determine the final standings.
The Southern Hemisphere Series will begin with the opening match between New Zealand and France on July 4th, and will consist of 18 matches broadcast and streamed until July 19th. The Japanese national team has three matches scheduled: against Italy on the 4th, against Ireland on the 11th, and against France on the 18th, all of which will be broadcast and streamed on WOWOW Prime and WOWOW On Demand.
◇The broadcast and streaming schedule is as follows:
<Round 1>
July 4, 3:45 PM: New Zealand vs France (WOWOW Live/WOWOW On Demand) ▽ July 4, 5:10 PM: Japan vs Italy (WOWOW Prime/WOWOW On Demand) ▽ July 4, 6:55 PM: Australia vs Ireland (WOWOW On Demand) ▽ July 4, 9:55 PM: Fiji vs Wales (WOWOW On Demand)
July 5, 0:25 AM: "South Africa vs England" (WOWOW Prime/WOWOW On Demand) ▽ July 5, 3:55 AM: "Argentina vs Scotland" (WOWOW Prime/WOWOW On Demand)
<Round 2>
July 11, 1:55 PM: New Zealand vs. Italy (WOWOW Live/WOWOW On Demand) July 11, 4:25 PM: Australia vs. France (WOWOW Live/WOWOW On Demand) July 11, 6:50 PM: Japan vs. Ireland (WOWOW Prime/WOWOW On Demand) July 11, 9:55 PM: Fiji vs. England (WOWOW On Demand)
July 12, 0:25 AM: "South Africa vs Scotland" (WOWOW Prime/WOWOW On Demand) ▽ July 12, 3:55 AM: "Argentina vs Wales" (WOWOW Prime/WOWOW On Demand)
<Round 3>
July 18, 3:55 PM: New Zealand vs Ireland (WOWOW Live/WOWOW On Demand) July 18, 5:10 PM: Japan vs France (WOWOW Prime/WOWOW On Demand) July 18, 6:55 PM: Australia vs Italy (WOWOW Live/WOWOW On Demand) July 18, 9:55 PM: Fiji vs Scotland (WOWOW Live/WOWOW On Demand)
July 19, 0:25 AM: "South Africa vs Wales" (WOWOW Prime/WOWOW On Demand) ▽ July 19, 3:55 AM: "Argentina vs England" (WOWOW Live/WOWOW On Demand)
