France will face Japan, New Zealand and Australia in the first edition of the Nations Championship, with a very tight schedule from next summer onwards.

The French rugby federation (FFR) confirmed on Monday France’s programme for the second half of 2026, as part of the first edition of the Nations Championship. France will open the competition with a trip to New Zealand on 4 July, just seven days after the Top 14 final.

The schedule then features two more matches and therefore two more trips: 11 July in Australia, then 18 July against Japan. In the autumn, the Nations Championship will continue on French soil: France will host Fiji (8-9 November), South Africa (13-15 November) and then Argentina (21 November).

A major challenge

That congested schedule is already raising questions, the same refrain that comes round every year: the “premium” players from the Top 14 finalists or semi-finalists could (should?) be missing. This Nations Championship, which is set to replace the traditional summer and autumn tours, marks a turning point in the structuring of international rugby. The format will also set France a major physical and logistical challenge: following a Top 14 season with three top-level matches against southern hemisphere nations, less than a year out from the World Cup.

At the FFR, talks could get under way quickly with the Ligue nationale de rugby (LNR) to manage the release of key players or lighten their schedule. Which is likely to set teeth on edge… One thing is certain: head coach Fabien Galthié will once again have to strike a balance between sporting ambition and player welfare.