At the 2023 Rugby World Cup, the four best sides in the world by a considerable margin - and ranked in the top four as such - were Ireland, South Africa, France and New Zealand. Yet, all four ended up on the same side of the draw and met in the quarter-finals.
England will face Wales, Tonga and Zimbabwe in the pool stages of the Rugby World Cup in 2027.
Rugby's key dates, fixtures and schedule for 2026: England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Red Roses, Six Nations, Nations Championship summer and Autumn Tests, Women's Six Nations.
It's been labelled a "tectonic shift", set to shake up the world of rugby union, but what is the Nations Championship - and how will it revolutionise the game? Here's all you need to know…
Full schedule for the 2025 Autumn Nations Series, as England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and France welcome New Zealand, South Africa, Australia and Argentina.
Eight of rugby's leading unions have released a shared statement in which they state any player who joins R360 will be banned from playing for their country.
New Zealand won the Bronze Final at the Women's Rugby World Cup on Saturday, surviving a late French surge to triumph 42-26 in front of more than 50,000 fans.
A nervy Red Roses Rugby World Cup semi-final performance eventually saw England kick on to defeat France 35-17 at Ashton Gate and secure their place in a home final.
©2025 Sky UK
