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With the 2027 Rugby World Cup looming, 2026 shapes as a defining year for international rugby. New competitions, coaching transitions and shifting power dynamics in the test arena will prove whicgh nations are genuinely building toward something meaningful, and which are simply treading water.
Some teams will confirm their status at the top. Others will rise, frustrate or fall short. Here are a few fearless predictions for how 2026 will unfold.
France will repeat their success in the Six Nations. Les Bleus showed they can win without relying on chaos or individual brilliance, building pressure through a dominant pack and smart game management. As 2025 comes to a close, France look like they are in a healthy spot. Not many rugby nations can boast the same level of depth as the Springboks, but France are slowly but surely building a behemoth that can match it against the world’s best. Many other nations may moan about France’s squad rotation and perceived B-list teams, but it has served them well.
What’s more, the chasing pack looks vulnerable. Ireland showed signs of regression, England are still refining their identity, and Scotland continue to flirt with success without taking that next step. France look settled, confident and physically imposing.
South Africa’s dominance and the All Blacks’ turbulent start under Scott Robertson have seen international rugby’s pecking order shaken up. By the end of New Zealand’s campaign this year, serious questions were being asked by pundits in the local rugby media about the supposed demise of the All Blacks.
But let’s face it, this year was more of a bump in the road than a full-blown derailment. This is the All Blacks we are talking about. When their biggest problem is losing three tests in a calendar year, New Zealand rugby is still in a strong position. This time next year, the All Blacks will have usurped South Africa as the number one nation in the world following the Greatest Rivalry Tour.
The new Nations Championship, set to kick off in 2026, has had its fair share of criticism, particularly regarding the ring-fencing of the top nations. But the tournament will mark a new era for international rugby. It provides clarity around international fixtures, more tantalising match-ups, increased opportunities for Nations Cup countries to play regular matches and a format the casual fan can engage with.
The impact of wrapping international tests in more colourful packaging is already being felt, with ITV snapping up the broadcast rights for the first two editions of the Nations Championship in a deal believed to be worth more than £90 million. Rugby is now firmly in the entertainment business.
The Wallabies will beat both New Zealand and South Africa in the same calendar year for the first time since the early 2000s, but still finish the season with an overall losing record.
It will perfectly capture where Australian rugby sits in 2026: capable of spectacular highs but still vulnerable to inconsistency. The Wallabies are dangerous enough to make every heavyweight nervous heading toward a World Cup on home soil. How they manage the handover from Joe Schmidt to Les Kiss will be crucial.