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July 3, 2026 — 7:30pm
The Nations Championship has finally arrived. Twelve countries, two groups, two series of games in July and November, and the eternal pub question will be answered once and for all: who is better, the northern or the southern hemisphere?
On Saturday, the Wallabies take on Ireland at a sold-out Allianz Stadium, then next Saturday in Brisbane they play France, who will be without their injured star halfback Antoine Dupont. The final Test will be on Saturday, July 18, in Perth against Italy.
The Wallabies will then travel to the northern hemisphere to round out the championship in November, taking on England, Scotland and Wales. The last weekend is reserved for finals at Twickenham.
Each nation will be involved in the finals, starting with the sixth-placed team from the north taking on the sixth-placed from the south, and so on until the showpiece final on Sunday between the top two teams from each hemisphere.
The Nations Championship is unique because it pits the very best players in the world against each other more often.
I was involved in initial discussions about the Nations Championship as a player and, to be honest, I had some doubts about whether it would get off the ground.
There are just so many different stakeholders to get across the line. Clubs, countries and competitions can all want different things at different times in rugby.
It is a huge logistical effort to get the calendars aligned, but Japan, New Zealand, Fiji, Australia, South Africa, England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Italy, Argentina and France are all signed up and ready to play.
To ensure that rugby is best placed to evolve into the future, there is a willingness from each Test nation to provide more content.
One initial negative spin on the Nations Championship was that it would diminish the spectacle of the World Cup, but I think that a year out from the tournament, it actually enhances it.
We are going to get the perfect look at where all the major Test nations are in their preparation, and it will just generate more interest in what we are going to enjoy in Australia next year when the World Cup starts.
Last year, the Wallabies defeated the Lions in the third Test and ended a 62-year wait for victory at Ellis Park.
There was so much hope and promise for this team, which ended the year in November with four disappointing defeats against England, Ireland, Italy and France.
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt is about to take charge of his final three Tests before handing over the coaching reins to Les Kiss.
I am excited about the squad that has been picked. Angus Bell, Taniela Tupou, Len Ikitau and Tom Hooper are all returning to Australia after a gruelling European season. All of these players will be able to bring back precious knowledge on July’s opposition.
Ahead of the World Cup, I believe with this group of Wallabies, rest makes rust. But equally, the Wallabies need to be really strategic about how they use players in these July Tests.
Playing 50 minutes is obviously entirely different to playing a full game. A young player will be able to handle minutes differently to a Test veteran. I do believe that if the Wallabies want to compete for a World Cup, they cannot count on just 15 players; they need to develop another set of players that can also win Tests.
Schmidt has decided to leave Lukhan Salakaia-Loto out of the Wallabies squad for the Nations Championship, which surprised me, given I thought he was probably the best lock in Australia. But equally, I am not seeing what the coaches are seeing day to day in terms of how they are approaching the three Tests against Ireland, France and Italy. It is a reminder of just how difficult it is to earn Test selection.
Against Ireland on Saturday, the Wallabies face familiar adversaries. Andy Farrell coached the British and Irish Lions to a series victory in Australia last year and Ireland fullback Hugo Keenan was the man who scored the match-winning try in the second Test in Melbourne.
The Wallabies go into this Test against Ireland as underdogs, but I think that will suit this squad. At their best, this Australian team knows it can compete against anyone in the world.
This Saturday at Allianz Stadium against Ireland is the perfect start for the Wallabies in the Nations Championship: familiar foes, a sold-out stadium and an opportunity to start the Wallabies Test season perfectly.
Michael Hooper played 125 Tests for the Wallabies, captaining Australia 69 times, and is a commentator for Stan Sport.
Stan Sport is the only place to watch every match of the Nations Championship live and on demand. Wallabies matches are also available live on Nine and 9Now.
