The 2026 mid-year rugby union internationals (also known as the summer internationals or July rugby union tests in the Northern Hemisphere) are international rugby union matches that are mostly played in the Southern Hemisphere during the July international window.
Sky Sports has announced a four-year deal with SANZAAR to show a wealth of southern hemisphere rugby union, including England’s three-Test tour of Australia this summer.
Sky Sports will continue to show the very best rugby from New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Argentina as part of a new four-year deal with SANZAAR.
How to watch the 2026 July rugby union tests on TV
There’s only one free-to-air option for watching the 2026 July rugby union tests Game edition of the in Australia – Channel 10.
If you find yourself away from your television during either of the games, you can always stream mid-year rugby union internationals games live on 10 Play, Network Ten’s online platform available on desktop and to download on both mobile platforms – iOS and Android.
The deal until 2026 includes rights to Home Nations Summer Tours, The Rugby Championship, Super Rugby and domestic SA and NZ competitions: The Currie Cup and The National Provincial Championship.
As well as showing England in Australia this summer, Sky Sports will show Ireland’s three-Test tour of New Zealand, Wales’ three-Test tour of South Africa and Scotland’s three-Test tour of Argentina.
The agreement provides viewers with at least 150 fixtures a year headlined by the best club and international matches from the southern hemisphere until 2026.
The Rugby Championship between South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina will be live on Sky Sports until 2026
2026 July rugby union tests fixtures – Nations Championship – July Tests
July 2026 Nations Championship Fixtures
Round 1 – Saturday, July 4
New Zealand vs France – One NZ Stadium, Christchurch, 8:10am (local 7:10pm)
Australia vs Ireland – Allianz Stadium, Sydney, 11:00am (local 8:00pm)
Japan vs Italy – Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Tokyo, time TBC
Fiji vs Wales – Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, 2:10pm
South Africa vs England – Ellis Park, Johannesburg, 4:40pm (local 5:40pm)
Argentina vs Scotland – Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes, Córdoba, 8:00pm (local 4:00pm)
Round 2 – Saturday, July 11
New Zealand vs Italy – Hnry Stadium, Wellington, 6:10am (local 5:10pm)
Australia vs France – Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, 8:30am (local 5:30pm)
Japan vs Ireland – McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle, 11:00am (local 8:00pm)
Fiji vs England – Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool, 2:10pm
South Africa vs Scotland – Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria, 4:40pm (local 5:40pm)
Argentina vs Wales – Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario, San Juan, 8:00pm (local 4:00pm)
Round 3 – Saturday, July 18
Japan vs France – Japan National Stadium, Tokyo, time TBC
New Zealand vs Ireland – Eden Park, Auckland, 8:10am (local 7:10pm)
Australia vs Italy – HBF Park, Perth, 11:00am (local 6:00pm)
Fiji vs Scotland – Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh, 2:10pm
South Africa vs Wales – Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban, 4:40pm (local 5:40pm)
Argentina vs England – Estadio Único Madre de Ciudades, Santiago del Estero, 8:00pm (local 4:00pm)
Tickets for the July 2026 Nations Championship rugby tests are already on sale through official union sites and stadium partners (e.g., Ticketek in Australia, RFU in England, NZ Rugby for All Blacks). Matches will be broadcast globally: Sky Sports in the UK/Ireland, Stan Sport and Channel 9/10 in Australia, SuperSport in South Africa, ESPN in South America, and J Sports in Japan.
How to Buy Tickets 2026 mid-year rugby union internationals
Australia (Wallabies home tests): Tickets available via Ticketek Australia (Sydney, Brisbane, Perth fixtures)
New Zealand (All Blacks): Tickets sold through NZ Rugby / Ticketmaster NZ for Christchurch, Wellington, and Auckland matches
South Africa (Springboks): Tickets via SuperSport & SA Rugby official channels for Ellis Park, Loftus Versfeld, Kings Park
Argentina (Los Pumas): Tickets through Union Argentina de Rugby and local stadium partners (CĂłrdoba, San Juan, Santiago del Estero)
UK & Ireland fixtures (Fiji “home” games in Cardiff, Liverpool, Edinburgh): Tickets via RFU, WRU, SRU official sites
Japan (Brave Blossoms): Tickets through JRFU and J Sports partners for Tokyo and Newcastle fixtures
👉 Hospitality and travel packages are also offered (e.g., Rugby Australia bundles flights, hotels, and match tickets).
How to Watch Live July rugby union tests fixtures
By Region
UK & Ireland: Sky Sports holds exclusive rights to all Southern Hemisphere tests until 2026.
Australia:
Stan Sport (subscription streaming, every match live/on demand)
Channel 9 / 10 (free-to-air coverage of Wallabies home games)
New Zealand: Sky NZ broadcasts all inbound tests.
South Africa: SuperSport covers Springbok fixtures.
Argentina & South America: ESPN has rights.
Japan: J Sports streams Brave Blossoms matches.
USA & Canada: FloSports (USA) and DAZN (Canada).
Europe (France, Italy, etc.): Canal+ (France), Sky Italia (Italy)