Australia round out their 2026 Nations Championship July window against Italy, a fixture that is no longer the guaranteed Wallabies win it once was. Tips, head-to-head and where to bet.
The Nations Championship is rugby union’s new global showpiece, contested for the first time in 2026 by 12 of the world’s best Test nations across the July and November windows and climaxing in a Finals Weekend in London. The Wallabies sit in the Southern pool and open at home in July before a spring tour north. Below: the format, Australia’s fixtures, the betting markets, how to watch and where to bet. For the wider rugby picture, see our rugby tips hub.
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Twelve nations are split into two pools of six — a Northern pool and a Southern pool. Every team plays the six sides in the opposite pool: three matches in the July window and three in November. Pool standings after those six rounds set the seedings for the Finals Weekend at Allianz Stadium (Twickenham), where each team faces its equivalently ranked rival from the other pool to decide final placings. The two pool winners meet in the Nations Championship final on Sunday 29 November 2026.
| Northern Pool | Southern Pool |
|---|---|
| England | South Africa |
| France | New Zealand |
| Ireland | Australia |
| Scotland | Argentina |
| Italy | Fiji |
| Wales | Japan |
The Wallabies play three home Tests in July and three away Tests in November, then a placement match at the Finals Weekend:
| Match | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Australia v Ireland | 4 Jul | Allianz Stadium, Sydney |
| Australia v France | 11 Jul | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane |
| Australia v Italy | 18 Jul | Venue TBC |
| England v Australia | 8 Nov | Allianz Stadium, Twickenham |
| Scotland v Australia | 15 Nov | Murrayfield, Edinburgh |
| Wales v Australia | 21 Nov | Principality Stadium, Cardiff |
| Finals Weekend | 27–29 Nov | Allianz Stadium, Twickenham |
The markets Australian bookmakers frame for the new competition:
As a first-of-its-kind event there is no form guide, but the world’s top-ranked sides head the market: defending world champions South Africa, plus Ireland, France and New Zealand. The Wallabies are an each-way play from the Southern pool, with three winnable home Tests in July a chance to bank early seeding points. Outright prices will move sharply on the July results, so backing antepost value before the tournament starts is the smart play.
Stan Sport is the home of Wallabies Tests and the Nations Championship in Australia, with marquee matches also on the Nine Network. Most bookmaker apps stream live for funded accounts.
For the best outright odds and sign-up offers, see our best rugby betting sites in Australia guide, or take the top bookmaker deals below. Ladbrokes, Neds and bet365 frame the deepest rugby union markets.
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The Nations Championship is a new global rugby union competition contested for the first time in 2026 by 12 top nations — the six Six Nations sides (England, France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, Wales) and six from the south (South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Argentina, Fiji, Japan). It runs in even-numbered years across the July and November Test windows, with a Finals Weekend deciding the title.
The 12 teams are split into a Northern pool and a Southern pool of six. Each side plays the six teams in the opposite pool — three matches in July and three in November. Results set the seedings for the Finals Weekend, where each team meets its equivalently ranked rival from the other pool. The two pool winners contest the Nations Championship final.
The Wallabies host Ireland on 4 July (Sydney), France on 11 July (Brisbane) and Italy on 18 July, then travel to face England on 8 November, Scotland on 15 November and Wales on 21 November, before a placement match at the Finals Weekend (27-29 November).
The inaugural Nations Championship Finals Weekend is held at Allianz Stadium (Twickenham) in London from 27 to 29 November 2026, with the Nations Championship final — the Northern pool winner against the Southern pool winner — on Sunday 29 November.
For 2026, yes — the Rugby Championship is not contested this year, with the Nations Championship and bilateral tours filling the calendar. The Rugby Championship is expected to return in a later window. See our Rugby Championship & Bledisloe Cup hub for the Wallabies’ other 2026 Tests.
All leading Australian bookmakers frame outright winner, pool winner, match head-to-head, handicap, margin and try-scorer markets for the Nations Championship. See the best rugby betting sites below.
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