Ireland enters the inaugural 2026 Nations Championship under head coach Andy Farrell looking to reset its trajectory against rugby’s heavyweights, opening its November schedule with a fixture against Argentina at the Aviva Stadium on Friday, November 6.
Andy Farrell’s side enters the autumn schedule facing questions about its place among rugby’s elite, according to Yahoo Sports. While the team finished 2022 at the top of the world rankings following a Test series triumph over the All Blacks and victories against South Africa, Fiji, and Australia, subsequent results against top-tier opponents have raised concerns.
The sequence includes a 36-14 loss to France in the Six Nations and a 40-21 defeat against the All Blacks at Eden Park.
Nations Championship Format and November Fixtures at Aviva Stadium
The 2026 Nations Championship links the July and November Test windows into a biennial international men’s competition created by Six Nations Rugby and SANZAAR, as detailed by RugbyLAD. The 12-country tournament divides teams into northern and southern groups of six. Ireland competes in the northern group alongside England, France, Scotland, Wales, and Italy, facing each of the six southern group opponents once across the two windows. Even though Japan sits in the Northern Hemisphere geographically, it takes part in the Southern Hemisphere division alongside the four Rugby Championship nations and Fiji, whereas World Rugby has established the Nations Cup for the other 12 sides that secured qualification for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
Introducing our Nations Championship 2026 home and away fixtures! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/6BT32CmjF9
After playing three matches in July, the competition resumes with three November rounds. According to RugbyLAD and Yahoo Sports, Ireland’s three November group fixtures will all take place at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
- Ireland v Argentina: Friday, November 6, 8.10pm (GMT)
- Ireland v Fiji: Saturday, November 14, 8.10pm (GMT)
- Ireland v South Africa, Saturday 21 November, 17:40.
Group standings are determined by a standard bonus-point system awarding four points for a win, two for a draw, and zero for a defeat, with bonus points available for scoring four or more tries or losing by seven points or fewer. Should a side cross the opposition try line at least four times and keep the final margin to seven points or less, it will be awarded both bonus points in a losing effort. The team finishing at the top of each group qualifies for the Nations Championship final, with all 12 teams participating in a three-day finals weekend at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, from November 27 to November 29, 2026, where each country faces the corresponding finisher from the opposite group.
Squad Selections and Conditioning Focus for November Tests
Farrell’s squad selection addresses several front-row and backline considerations ahead of matches against Argentina, Fiji, and the world champion Springboks.
Prop Tadhg Furlong is available after a disciplinary committee cleared him following an incident in Leinster’s United Rugby Championship win over Munster, providing a boost alongside fellow Lion Andrew Porter. However, injuries impact other areas of the pack and backline. Garry Ringrose is unlikely to feature in November due to injury, potentially opening outside centre duties for Jamie Osborne or Robbie Henshaw. Mack Hansen also returns to the wing and full-back options after missing the Six Nations and summer Tests.
Opponent Argentina arrives in Dublin following squad changes by head coach Felipe Contepomi, who added late call-ups Facundo Isa, Rodrigo Martinez, and Mateo Soler while welcoming back captain Julian Montoya.
Worth a look
