Overview

• An 18‑team, two‑tier model will see the top 12 play a home‑and‑away cross‑regional schedule, with teams ranked 13–18 competing in centrally hosted events in 2026 and 2028.
• The top‑tier teams are Australia, Canada, England, France, Italy, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, USA and Wales.
• Brazil, Fiji, Hong Kong China, Netherlands, Samoa and Spain make up the 13–18 group, whose tournaments will be funded by World Rugby at a single host destination.
• More than 100 tests are slated across the cycle, with fixtures concentrated in a new September–October window and unions retaining domestic commercial rights for their home matches.
• The series forms a core pathway to Women’s Rugby World Cup 2029, with the 2028 central tournament doubling as a Final Qualification Tournament; Hong Kong will prepare with a Heidelberg tri‑nations in November.