Nations Championship Trophy Unveiled Ahead Of Kick-Off
The Nations Championship Trophy, the prize that the 12 strongest teams in international rugby will battle to win, has been unveiled for the first time.
Standing 67cm tall and weighing 15kg, the trophy will become the ultimate prize in the Nations Championship, awarded to the team that emerges as the dominant force in world rugby. More than just a piece of silverware, it symbolises a new era for the sport – a tournament created by the game, for the game, its players, and its fans. It brings together the world’s leading rugby nations in pursuit of global supremacy.
The global nature of the Nations Championship served as the inspiration behind the trophy’s design. Key features include a gold-plated globe at its centre, while the handles, which wrap around the body of the trophy, incorporate lines of latitude and longitude. These elements are intended to reflect the rivalry and collision of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, a defining feature of the uniquely competitive tournament.
The Nations Championship introduces a bold new format that pits the Northern Hemisphere against the Southern Hemisphere. The Six Nations teams will represent the North and face the SANZAAR nations, joined by Fiji and Japan, who will compete on behalf of the South.
Each team will play six matches against opponents from the opposing hemisphere across two windows of the tournament, in July and November.
In the Nations Championship, every match carries significant importance, with points contributing to group standings and determining qualification pathways to the Nations Championship Finals Weekend.
Final group positions will dictate opponents for the Finals Weekend, a three-day celebration of international rugby. The teams that finish top of their respective groups will meet in the championship match on the final day of the event, where they will compete to become the inaugural Nations Championship winners, lift the newly unveiled trophy, and secure their place at the pinnacle of international rugby.
In doing so, they will write the opening chapter of a competition designed to reshape the future of the global game.
Speaking at the unveiling of the Nations Championship Trophy, SANZAAR CEO Brendan Morris said:
“The waiting is almost over, and anticipation for the inaugural Nations Championship continues to grow. The unveiling of the new trophy signals that kick-off is drawing ever closer.
“SANZAAR, the players, the fans, and the broadcasters are all excited about this new tournament, which begins in the Southern Hemisphere on July 4 and ushers in a new era of Northern versus Southern Hemisphere rivalry.
“SANZAAR believes innovation is essential for the continued growth and health of the sport, and the Nations Championship is an important part of rugby’s future. The 12 best teams in world rugby will compete for the title of Nations Championship winners, while every team will also contribute, through results across July, November, and the Finals Weekend, to determining which hemisphere reigns supreme in world rugby.”
With the Nations Championship set to kick off on 4 July, Six Nations Rugby CEO Tom Harrison also welcomed the unveiling of the trophy.
“The Nations Championship will determine the dominant force in global rugby, and the unveiling of the trophy marks the beginning of the final countdown to a tournament that has been years in the making,” said Harrison.
“Created by the game, for the game, its players and its fans, the Nations Championship is more than just a tournament; it is a catalyst for growth in a sport that is ready to become truly global.
“The Nations Championship will stand alongside the world’s premier sporting events because it possesses the qualities that define elite competitions – jeopardy, unpredictability, and world-class athletes competing at the highest level to produce unforgettable sporting drama.
“Every fixture in July and November will be essential viewing, and with comprehensive global broadcast coverage, rugby fans around the world will never have to miss a moment of the action.”
