The inaugural rugby Nations Championship kicked off on Saturday, July 4, 2026, amid mounting criticism over player welfare and a stark financial divide between hemispheres.
The tournament unites 12 elite nations in a single global league, but financial disclosures compiled by Planet Rugby highlight an immense wage gap.
French players earn upwards of €30,000 per Test match, while Fijian players receive approximately £320 for the same 80 minutes of play.
Northern Hemisphere nations significantly outpay their Southern Hemisphere counterparts in both match fees and daily training camp allowances.
For example, England players receive between £23,000 and £25,000 per match plus a £450 daily allowance, whereas South Africa players get £6,200 per match and a £75 daily allowance.
New Zealand players earn £4,050–£5,050 per match with a £75 daily allowance, Australia players get £3,050–£3,550 (daily allowance undisclosed), and Argentina players receive £1,000–£1,250 per match with a £25 daily allowance.
Fiji sits at the bottom with a £320 match fee and a £12 daily allowance.
According to Planet Rugby, southern hemisphere athletes rely heavily on separate central contracts to offset lower match fees, though Fiji lacks a robust central contract pool.
Beyond financial inequalities, reports from The Guardian note that the tournament structure enforces grueling travel itineraries for several squads during the opening weeks.
The opening round features New Zealand hosting France in Christchurch, Australia entertaining Ireland in Sydney, South Africa playing England in Johannesburg, and Argentina hosting Scotland in Córdoba.
Meanwhile, Fiji will play their scheduled fixtures in the United Kingdom, while the Welsh squad is set to travel directly from Cardiff to San Juan and Durban for consecutive matches.
