Wales will take part in a brand new competition this summer. Here is everything you need to know

08:45, 20 Jun 2026

Wales will compete in the inaugural Nations Championship this summer, and the tournament is set to provide a significant test for head coach Steve Tandy and his squad.

The new competition marks the start of an exciting chapter in the international rugby calendar. Here’s everything you need to know about the Nations Championship and what it means for Wales.

Who are they playing?

Wales’ summer schedule begins with an uncapped game against the Barbarians at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham on Saturday, June 27.

Tandy’s side will then begin their Nations Championship campaign against Fiji at the Cardiff City Stadium a week later on Saturday, July 4.

They then fly out to Argentina where they will face the Pumas in Santa Fe on July 11.

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The following Saturday, July 18, Wales finish their season with a daunting trip to Durban to take on world champions South Africa.

Where can I watch the games?

All the Nations Championship games will be televised live on ITV and S4C. The match against the Barbarians will be shown exclusively on S4C.

What is the format?

The idea behind the Nations Championship is to add extra meaning to the traditional summer and autumn internationals.

This will be a biennial competition between the northern and southern hemispheres, which will have an eventual overall winner.

The competition will include every Six Nations country along with all four from the Rugby Championship, with Fiji and Japan in the southern hemisphere pool.

Despite facing nations from a different hemisphere there will be a separate Six Nations table and Rugby Championship table including Fiji and Japan.

This summer Wales play Fiji, Argentina and South Africa, while in the autumn they will host Japan, New Zealand and Australia at the Principality Stadium.

It will all culminate in a finals weekend on November 27-29 at Allianz Stadium Twickenham.

The winner will be determined by the first-placed finisher in the northern pool and their equivalent in the southern pool.

Every side will be guaranteed a game that weekend, with second playing second, third facing off against third and so forth.

Who are the new faces in the squad?

There will be a fresh feel to Wales this summer.

Tandy has named six uncapped players in his extended 48-man squad which is expected to be cut after the Barbarians game.

The two most intriguing selections are Exeter Chiefs backrower Kane James and Harlequins centre Bryn Bradley.

James was born in Haverfordwest and played his junior rugby for St Peters in Cardiff before Exeter Chiefs snapped him up.

Having represented England at U20s level, the 20-year-old has now pledged his international allegiance to Wales, a move viewed by the Welsh Rugby Union as a major coup.

Harlequins centre Bradley is a big man at 6ft 4in and is an explosive ball carrier who has been compared to Jamie Roberts.

There is also a first call-up for 29-year-old Dragons backrower Harrison Keddie who has been rewarded for his consistency at regional level.

Cardiff loosehead Rhys Barratt is another player who has excelled at regional level and is a real livewire around the park.

Barratt isn’t the only uncapped prop in the squad with 26-year-old Ospreys tighthead Ben Warren also included.

Former Wales U20s captain Ryan Woodman, who can play lock and backrow, is also in the squad.

On the other end of the experience scale the 57-cap Dragons tighthead Dillon Lewis is in line to make his first Wales appearance since March 2024.

There are recalls for Gloucester centre Max Llewellyn, Leicester Tigers openside Tommy Reffell, Scarlets centre Joe Roberts and Cardiff scrum-half Ellis Bevan.

A new coaching team

There are also some fresh faces in the coaching team with former Scotland international Peter Murchie finally taking up his position as defence coach.

Tandy has previously worked with Murchie as part of Gregor Townsend’s coaching team with Scotland.

The 40-year-old has previous coaching experience at Nissa Rugby, Ayr, Glasgow Warriors and Kobelco Steelers in Japan.

Wales announced on Friday Paul James would join the coaching team as scrum coach, beating off competition from Adam Jones and Duncan Jones.

The Ospreys legend is well-acquainted to this coaching team after getting drafted in last-minute after Duncan Jones suffered a freak leg injury on the eve of the Six Nations.

James will work closely with Danny Wilson who has responsibility for the lineout and contact area. In his role, James will also coach players outside of international campaign windows to continue their development and progression.

But there remain two vacancies left to fill in Tandy’s backroom team – kicking and attacking skills.

It’s believed the WRU have narrowed down their list of candidates.

One man who did apply is former All Blacks outside-half Nick Evans but he has now taken up a role in Japan.

Wales great Leigh Halfpenny, James Hook, Cardiff coach Jonny Goodridge and Scott Sneddon of the Scarlets have been linked to the vacancies.

Another individual linked with a role is former Cardiff and Dragons kicking consultant Alan Kingsley.

With Wales’ first game of the summer a mere eight days away the clock is ticking.

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