The Nations Championship kicks off this weekend with six matches on the schedule as a new era of International rugby gets under way. The competition brings together some of the biggest sides in world rugby across two conferences, providing meaningful cross-hemisphere Test matches through the July window and a set of finals in November.
We take a look at five of the six matches from a betting angle with the South Africa v England match getting its own preview.
Nations Championship Format
Given this is the 1st ever Nations Championship the format requires some explanation:
The tournament features the Six Nations sides , namely England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales and six teams representing the southern hemisphere and Pacific region, being Argentina, Australia, Fiji, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa.
Conferences
Teams are split into Northern and Southern conferences, but rather than playing within their own conference, each nation faces all six teams from the opposite conference once over six rounds. Three matches are played during the July internationals and three more during the November window, with each team hosting three fixtures and playing three away (Fiji will play their home games in the UK).
Points
The standard World Rugby points system applies, with four points for a win, two for a draw, plus bonus points for scoring four or more tries and for losing by seven points or fewer.
Finals Weekend
After six rounds, the top team from each conference will meet in the Nations Championship Final at Twickenham, while every other team will also play a final placement match against the side that finished in the corresponding position in the opposite conference, creating a full Finals Weekend to determine the final rankings from first through to twelfth.
New Zealand v France — Click here to bet
New Zealand have won four of their last five, with their only defeat in that stretch a 33-19 loss to England in London. Their most recent win saw them beat Wales 52-26 away from home late in 2025.
France have also won four of their last five, with their only slip-up coming against Scotland in the Six Nations earlier this year. The last game of that tournament saw them beat England 48-46 with a last-minute penalty to win the championship.
Head-to-Head
A tale of the home team here. New Zealand hosted France for a three-match tour last year and won all three encounters, with only the first being a close contest at 31-27. France had won their two previous meetings between the sides, both at home.
Betting and Verdict
New Zealand are favourites to win at 1.20 with France out at 5.00 and the draw at 26.00. The handicap is set at New Zealand -12.5 at 1.87.
Both sides will be looking for a solid start to the campaign, and both have seen impressive performances from their club sides recently. France also managed to put up a good fight last year with what was effectively a second-string side in New Zealand, and I think we are going to see a close contest.
Suggested Bet: Handicap, France [+12.5] at 1.83.
Bomb Squad Insurance
Applies only to bets placed before kick-off.
Qualifying Markets:
- Anytime Try Scorer.
- First Try Scorer.
- Last Try Scorer.
Single/ Straight bets only.
Pre Match Only.
Free Bets do not count towards this offer.
Refund must be claimed within 24 hours of the game finishing.
Refund limited to 1 refund per customer per event.
Free Bet vouchers received must be used within 7 days.
Max refund per account per day in Free Bets:
- Max refund per account per day R5,000
- Max refund for Black card members per day R7,500
- Max refund for Super Black card members per day R10,000
Free Bets terms and conditions apply.
Simply email promotions@wsb.co.za with Subject ‘Bomb Squad’ within 24 hours of the game finishing.
Japan v Italy — Click here to bet
Japan have won just one of their last five matches, that lone win coming 23-25 away against Georgia.
Italy have won two of their last five, with those wins coming against England and Scotland during the Six Nations. Their most recent match saw them lose 31-17 to Wales.
Head-to-Head
Italy have won the last three meetings against Japan, with Japan’s last wins in this fixture coming back in 2018 and 2014. The most recent encounter saw Italy win 42-14 away from home.
Betting and Verdict
Italy are at 1.33 with Japan out at 3.50 and the draw at 26.00. The handicap is set at Italy -8.5 at 1.87.
Japan have not played a Test match since November last year, while Italy are coming off the back of a Six Nations campaign that saw them cause two big upsets. We also saw Italy put up a brutal score against Japan last year, and I think we will see something similar this weekend.
Suggested Bet: Handicap, Italy [-8.5] at 1.87.
Australia v Ireland — Click here to bet
Australia had a rough end to last year, losing their last four matches on their tour of the northern hemisphere, and their home form saw them win just two of their last five as well.
Ireland, by contrast, finished their Six Nations on a strong note, after their first-round loss to France, they won their next four in a row to nearly steal the championship.
Head-to-Head
Ireland have dominated Australia in recent years, winning all of the last five meetings between the sides, including two wins in Australia. The last time the two sides played down under was the third Test of the 2018 Ireland tour of Australia, where Ireland won 16-20.
Betting and Verdict
Ireland are at 1.77 while Australia are out at 2.10, with the draw at 29.00. The handicap is set at Ireland -1.5 at 1.87.
Ireland found some really solid form at the end of the year, winning their last four matches, while Australia are looking to bounce back after their last four defeats. The Australian sides also had a disappointing domestic season, with none of them making the semi-finals of Super Rugby, and I think Ireland should be able to take this one down under.
Suggested Bet: Handicap, Ireland [-1.5] at 1.87.
Fiji v Wales — Click here to bet
Although Fiji are the designated home team for this fixture, the match will actually be played in Cardiff.
Fiji have won three of their last five, with the two defeats in that stretch coming against France and England.
Wales have managed to put together back-to-back wins for the first time since 2023 after beating the Barbarians 33-31 last weekend, having previously beaten Italy 31-17 in their final match of the Six Nations.
Head-to-Head
Wales have won four of the last five meetings between the sides, although Fiji were able to win the most recent match, ending 24-19 in Cardiff last year.
Betting and Verdict
Fiji are at 1.71 and Wales at 2.15, with the draw at 26.00. The handicap is set at Fiji -1.5 at 1.80.
Sometimes all a team needs is to find one or two wins to spark a return to form, and I think that is exactly what we are going to see from Wales this weekend as they face Fiji at home looking for redemption from last year’s defeat.
Suggested Bet: Wales to win at 2.15.
Argentina v Scotland — Click here to bet
Argentina have won two of their last five, with wins over Scotland and Wales on their end-of-year tour last year.
Scotland had a hugely impressive Six Nations, after losing to Italy in the first round, they went on to beat England, Wales and France back-to-back. They did, however, fall just short against Ireland in the final round.
Head-to-Head
Argentina have had the upper hand in recent meetings, winning three of the last five between the sides, including the most recent 33-24 win in Scotland last year.
Betting and Verdict
Argentina are at 1.31, Scotland at 3.65 and the draw at 23.00. The handicap is set at Argentina -8.5 at 1.80.
In each of Argentina’s last three wins against Scotland, they have failed to cover an 8.5-point handicap, and although they are the home side this weekend, I don’t think they will be able to cover it again.
Suggested Bet: Handicap, Scotland [+8.5] at 1.91
Click here for betting on all the weekend’s Nations Championship matches
Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
