World Rugby announces groundbreaking revamp of Men's International Calendar
World Rugby has announced plans for a comprehensive overhaul of the global calendar, introducing a pioneering competition scheduled to kick off in 2026. The newly introduced tournament, slated to consist of 24 teams segregated into two divisions, is anticipated to herald a new era of competitive rugby on an international scale.
With promotion and relegation mechanisms set to come into effect from 2030, the top division of the tournament is set to comprise the powerhouse teams from the prestigious Six Nations and Rugby Championship, along with two additional teams yet to be officially revealed.
This transformative development is expected to facilitate a significant expansion of the World Cup, ushering in a new phase with 24 teams slated to participate in the prestigious event from 2027 onward.
The adjustments are expected to condense the duration of the World Cup to a six-week timeframe, down from the previous seven-week span, with the draw scheduled to be conducted in January 2026. The groundbreaking calendar revamp, representing a historic moment for the sport, has been met with widespread acclaim and anticipation.
The restructured calendar, set to encompass the months of July and November, is poised to supplant the existing summer and autumn international windows, operating in alternate years excluding World Cup and British and Irish Lions tour years.
