International-What is the League of Nations, the new competition that the XV of France will play in the summer of 2026?

The 2026 international rugby calendar will be upset. Furthermore, The three defeats of the Blues in New Zealand in recent weeks will therefore have struck the death knell. Moreover, in July. In addition, From next summer. For example, the XV of France and the other world nations, will participate in a whole new competition called League of Nations. Furthermore, Termined therefore the tours.

A new competition international-what league nations, new competition developed by World Rugby with the objectives: structuring the global calendar. Furthermore, offering more high -level confrontations and increasing income to save the bankruptcy of federations in difficulty, as can be the country of Wales currentlyFor example. Similarly, “”This competition offers players. Similarly, supporters of captivating matches in order to develop audience and value for all “underlined Alan Gilpin, Managing Director of World Rugby during the launch of the competition in 2023.

Two divisions. Additionally, Similarly, future promotions – International-what league nations, new competition

From now on, The Blues know their first program For this new competition which will bring together 24 national selections, separated into two divisions. Consequently, The elite. Furthermore, where the French team will appear, will be made up of the six participants of the 6 nations tournament (England, Scotland, France, Ireland, Italy, Wales), four of rugby championship (South Africa, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand) and two guest teams (Fiji and Japan). In international-what league nations, new competition total these twelve teams will be separated into two pools.

The second division will take most of the Nations of the Tier 2 (Portugal, Georgia, Samoa, Tonga, Uruguay, Spain, Romania, etc.). From 2030, a promotion and relegation system is provided between the two divisions.

Six meetings in two periods – International-what league nations, new competition

The launch of the League of Nations is therefore scheduled for July 2026. The competition will be held every two years. only during the pairs years, to avoid any collision with the World Cup or with The tour of the British and Irish lions, which each take place in odd years.

The international-what league nations, new competition competition will take place in two stages: a series of matches in July and another in November. However. the system of these meetings does not change: in summer, European teams will go to the southern hemisphere and vice versa in the fall as is already the case. Each team will play three games per phase, or six games in total. The two best nations will meet at the end of November for a grand final organized in London.

Towards isolation from minor nations?

But this reform is not unanimous. Many observers denounce an expensive system contrary to current ecological challenges. Since the nations will therefore have to travel between countries or even continents, the time of two interval weekends. According to some leaders, this League of Nations will also be locking more confrontations between large and small nations. The accession system only having to come into force until 2030. international-what league nations, new competition the second division teams will still have to wait several years before hoping to face the heavy goods vehicles in world rugby. “The global calendar they set up makes you very difficult to organize matches between small and big nations. Now our chances of playing against France. New Zealand are close to zero”regrets Chilean Sebastian Pineyrua, president of the Sudamerician rugby federation.

However. according to our information, the French team could take advantage of the years dedicated to the tours of the British and Irish lions (2029, 2033, 2037) to organize “development tours” against minor nations. The first edition of these new tours would be for 2033 since four years earlier. The Blues have planned to measure themselves in lionsa first since 1989. These tours. which would not deliver official selection, would therefore be used to avoid the isolation of small nations, while testing the tricolor breeding ground.

And the management of our internationals in all of this?

Finally, as far as we are concerned, the FFR will now have to look at the management of French internationals. Usually, the “premium” players from the XV of France were not traveling during summer tours. Will it be the same with the arrival of an official competition? “”A French international is preparing to play four competitions in the year “says Florian Grill in our columns. “”We have a reflection to conduct with the LNR. Provale […]we must think of a strategy that international-what league nations, new competition respects their health. The League of Nations is a real competition in which France will not want to do figuration. ” concludes the president of the federation.

Read also: XV de France – Olympic Midi exclusivity. The Blues will start the first League of Nations with the All Blacks. will end in Japan

It is therefore a deep restructuring that is announced in world rugby. For large nations it means more frequent posters between Cadors. For the others, the wait will be longer. It remains to be seen whether the promise of a future opening towards more equity will in fact.