30 September 2026
The Nations Championship Hemisphere Shield has been unveiled above the London skyline on the London Eye, overlooking one of the world’s greatest sporting capital cities, and the stage for the inaugural Finals Weekend, where teams will battle to decide the dominant force in global rugby and the balance of power between Hemispheres.
The Hemisphere Shield will be claimed by the Hemisphere group that earns the most number of points during the Finals Weekend, settling one of the fiercest debates in the sport: which hemisphere is truly the most dominant.
After three explosive Nations Championship rounds in July for the Southern Series, the contest between North and South is deadlocked at nine wins apiece. The competition heads into the remaining three rounds, the Northern Series, that will ultimately determine the matchups for the Finals Weekend in November, with everything on the line.
The Hemisphere Shield stands alongside the Nations Championship trophy as one of the competition's two defining prizes, reflecting the two battles taking place every time teams take the field.
Each nation is fighting to become the outright Nations Championship winner, while every Finals Weekend result at Allianz Stadium, London, simultaneously contributes to the larger contest determining whether North or South reign supreme.
Hemispheres really will collide on Finals weekend, when for the first time, the traditional rivalry between North and South has been given a structure, a scoreline and a worthy prize.
The Hemisphere Shield will be decided by six blockbuster north versus south matches. Seven points will be available across the weekend, with one point awarded for the winners of matches 2 v 2 through to 6 v 6 and two points on offer for the 1 v 1 showdown. The first hemisphere to reach four points will secure the Hemisphere Shield.
Brendan Morris, SANZAAR CEO, said: “For the players, representing your country will always carry enormous pride, but the Nations Championship adds another dimension. Every time a Southern Hemisphere nation takes the field against the North, they are contributing to a collective battle alongside their traditional rivals. That is a powerful idea, and the Hemisphere Shield gives that achievement a symbol built to last.
“Make no mistake about it: the Southern teams will have the full support of SANZAAR and rugby fans in the south, and the teams will be primed and ready to go for November. We want the silverware heading south.”
Tom Harrison, CEO of Six Nations Rugby, said: “The Nations Championship is a major pillar of the international rugby calendar, taking the sport to fans all over the world, and carrying the power to rival the biggest events in global sport and entertainment, redefining the future of rugby in the process.
“Every fixture matters to every team in the Nations Championship, with two trophies and titles on the line and ready to be won at the Finals Weekend. For fans, three days of back-to-back fixtures featuring the 12 best teams packed with the best players in rugby, and unprecedented access to tickets, guarantees an incredible experience that will turn London into the ultimate closing party of international rugby this year.”