Nations Championship 2026

By The Rugby Fan Central Team

The other half of World Rugby’s new WXV structure gets underway Sunday.

While the opening weekend of the main WXV Global Series features England, Australia, Canada, Scotland, France and New Zealand, six more nations are gathering in Hong Kong for the WXV Global Series Challenger 2026.

Spain, Fiji, Hong Kong China, Brazil, the Netherlands and Samoa will compete across three rounds at Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground, beginning September 13 and concluding September 26.

Round One brings three matchups: Spain vs. Fiji, Hong Kong China vs. Brazil and the Netherlands vs. Samoa.

And although the USA is not competing in the Challenger, there are American connections throughout the field — including recent matches involving Fiji, Brazil and Samoa.

What Is the WXV Global Series Challenger?

The Challenger is the second competition within the redesigned WXV Global Series.

While the top 12 nations compete through a home-and-away, cross-regional touring model, six nations — Brazil, Fiji, Hong Kong China, the Netherlands, Samoa and Spain — compete in a centralized tournament.

For 2026, that tournament takes place in Hong Kong.

The competition features nine Tests across three triple-header matchdays on September 13, 19 and 26. Each nation plays three matches.

The Challenger also forms part of the qualification pathway to Women’s Rugby World Cup 2029 in Australia.

Eight teams will qualify through regional competitions in 2027, followed by the two highest-ranked non-qualified teams at the end of the 2027 international window. The 2028 WXV Global Series Challenger will then serve as the Final Qualification Tournament, deciding the final available place at the World Cup.

That gives the Challenger stakes that extend well beyond what happens in Hong Kong this month.

How to Watch Round One in the USA

All three opening matches will be played at Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground in Hong Kong on Sunday, September 13.

Because of the time difference, Spain vs. Fiji actually begins Saturday night for much of the United States.

Spain vs. Fiji
12:00 a.m. ET Sunday · 11:00 p.m. CT Saturday · 10:00 p.m. MT Saturday · 9:00 p.m. PT Saturday

Hong Kong China vs. Brazil
3:30 a.m. ET · 2:30 a.m. CT · 1:30 a.m. MT · 12:30 a.m. PT

The Netherlands vs. Samoa
7:00 a.m. ET · 6:00 a.m. CT · 5:00 a.m. MT · 4:00 a.m. PT

The official World Rugby Round One preview lists the matches as being streamed live on RugbyPass TV where there is no local broadcaster. 

Spain vs. Fiji

Sunday, September 13
Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground — Hong Kong

Round One begins with perhaps the tournament’s most compelling matchup.

Spain enter ranked 14th in the world.

Fiji are 12th.

But the rankings don’t tell the whole story.

Spain and Fiji have met only twice in women’s Test rugby, and both matches came in WXV.

Spain won both.

The first was a 26–19 victory in Dubai in 2023.

The second was considerably tighter — and considerably more important.

Spain defeated Fiji 10–8 in 2024, a result that secured the WXV 3 title for Las Leonas.

With time up, Fiji fullback Luisa Tisolo had a conversion that could have drawn the match and handed the title to Samoa, but the attempt went wide. 

Now Fiji get another opportunity.

Fiji Arrive at a Historic High

Fijiana enter Hong Kong with momentum.

They defeated Japan 15–12 in Fukuoka on September 4, lifting Fiji to 12th in the World Rugby Women’s Rankings — their highest position ever.

Aqela Raitubu scored in that victory and enters the Challenger with six tries in 2026.

Fiji played six Tests before arriving in Hong Kong this year, winning three and losing three.

They also successfully defended the Oceania Rugby Women’s Championship, beating Tonga 85–5 and Samoa 60–7.

Fiji then hosted South Africa for two Tests. They lost the opener 55–12 before closing the margin dramatically in a 29–22 defeat one week later.

There is also an American reference point.

Fiji faced the Women’s Eagles at Audi Field in Washington, D.C., in July 2025.

The USA won 31–24. 

Spain Bring a Winning Streak of Their Own

Spain arrive having won their last three Tests.

Las Leonas defeated Belgium 39–0, Portugal 45–5 and the Netherlands 43–19 to retain the Rugby Europe Women’s Championship for a ninth consecutive time.

Those results extended Spain’s winning streak in the competition to 22 matches.

Spain also produced one of the strongest set pieces at the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup, finishing with a 100% scrum success rate, one of only two teams to do so.

Their broader World Cup campaign was more difficult.

Spain lost all three pool matches against New Zealand, Ireland and Japan. 

Sunday offers an immediate opportunity to measure their progress against a Fiji side currently ranked above them.

Hong Kong China vs. Brazil

Sunday, September 13
Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground — Hong Kong

The middle match of Round One brings something completely new.

Hong Kong China and Brazil have never met in a women’s international.

In fact, Brazil have never previously faced an Asian nation in a women’s Test.

Hong Kong China enter ranked 16th.

Brazil are 25th.

That makes the hosts favorites on paper, but it also gives Brazil an enormous rankings opportunity.

According to World Rugby’s pre-match calculations, a Brazilian victory would lift the South Americans three places to a new high of 22nd in the world. 

A Milestone Match for Hong Kong China

Sunday will be Hong Kong China’s 70th Test match.

It will also be their first Test on home soil in more than two years.

Their previous home international came in June 2024, when they defeated Kazakhstan 22–0.

Hong Kong China have played 69 Tests since making their international debut against Japan in 1998, recording 28 wins, two draws and 39 losses.

Their home record contains an interesting streak as well.

No team other than Japan has beaten Hong Kong China at home since Kazakhstan won 13–10 in May 2014. 

Brazil now gets the opportunity to change that.

Brazil Continue Building After a Historic World Cup

Brazil made history in 2025 by becoming the first South American women’s team to play at a Rugby World Cup.

The results demonstrated the scale of the challenge.

Brazil lost all three pool matches and scored 14 points across the tournament.

But there were historic moments.

Raquel Kochhann scored Brazil’s first Rugby World Cup points with two penalties against South Africa.

Then Bianca Silva scored the nation’s first Rugby World Cup try against France.

Brazil have not played a full Test since leaving the World Cup, but their preparations included two matches against the USA Women’s Falcons and two against South Africa A.

Brazil lost the first Falcons match 19–7 before responding with a 14–12 victory.

They then defeated South Africa A 29–19 and 34–12. 

Now comes another first: Brazil’s first Test against Asian opposition.

The Netherlands vs. Samoa

Sunday, September 13
Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground — Hong Kong

The final match of Round One brings together two teams with unfinished business.

The Netherlands and Samoa have met twice.

Samoa won the first meeting 33–14 in 2013.

Then came a dramatically different contest in 2024.

The Netherlands led 8–0 early before Samoa fought back.

Ana-Lise Sio scored in stoppage time to bring Samoa within two points, but Lieve Stallmann charged down Cassie Siataga’s conversion attempt.

The result: 8–8.

Two years later, they meet again. 

The Netherlands Bring Strong Recent Form

The Netherlands enter ranked 17th and have won seven of their last 10 Tests.

They finished second behind Spain in the 2026 Rugby Europe Women’s Championship after beating Portugal 59–0 and Belgium 41–0 before losing 43–19 to Spain.

They also prepared for Hong Kong with a 33–0 victory over Scotland A on August 29, although that match was not a full Test.

There is considerable history attached to Dutch women’s rugby as well.

The Netherlands played in the first recognized women’s rugby Test, facing France in Utrecht on June 13, 1982. 

Samoa Look for a Reset

Samoa arrive in Hong Kong needing a response.

Manusina have won only one of their last six Tests.

That victory came against Tonga in April, when Samoa won 50–5.

Their 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup was particularly difficult.

Samoa lost all three pool matches against Australia, England and the United States.

The Women’s Eagles defeated Samoa 60–0 in York, while England won 92–3 and Australia 73–0.

Samoa finished the tournament without scoring a try and conceded 225 points. Their only points of the World Cup came from a Harmony Vatau penalty against England. 

Hong Kong is an opportunity to begin rebuilding under former Manusina international Bella Milo, who succeeded Ramsey Tomokino as head coach in April. Milo had previously worked as Samoa’s defence coach at the 2025 World Cup. 

Why American Rugby Fans Should Pay Attention

The USA isn’t playing in the Challenger, but this competition still matters to American rugby.

Three of the six Challenger teams have recent direct connections to the U.S. program.

The Women’s Eagles defeated Fiji 31–24 at Audi Field in July 2025.

The USA then defeated Samoa 60–0 at the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup.

And Brazil’s preparations for this tournament included two matches against the USA Women’s Falcons, with the teams splitting the series.

Those results give American fans useful reference points as the Challenger teams continue developing.

There is a bigger reason to watch, too.

The Challenger is part of the same international structure as the main WXV Global Series, and the pathway eventually leads directly toward Women’s Rugby World Cup 2029.

For programs trying to climb the international ladder, the matches being played in Hong Kong matter.

Three Matches, Three Questions

Spain vs. Fiji asks whether the balance between those nations has finally shifted.

Spain have the 2–0 head-to-head advantage.

Fiji now have the higher world ranking and arrive after a significant victory over Japan.

Hong Kong China vs. Brazil asks a different question.

Can the hosts capitalize on home advantage, or can Brazil take another step forward after making history at the 2025 World Cup?

And the Netherlands vs. Samoa gives both nations an opportunity to establish themselves immediately after their 8–8 draw in the previous WXV cycle.

Three matches.

Six nations.

Three rounds in Hong Kong.

And an opportunity for each program to establish where it stands in the changing landscape of women’s international rugby.

RFC Analysis: Fiji May Be the Team to Watch

Spain’s recent form makes Las Leonas difficult to overlook.

But Fiji may be the most interesting team entering the tournament.

Their rise to a record-high No. 12 world ranking came after beating Japan on Japanese soil.

They successfully defended their Oceania title and then showed signs of progress during their two-match series against South Africa, reducing a 43-point defeat in the opener to a seven-point loss one week later.

Now comes Spain — the team Fiji have never beaten.

A victory would not simply reverse the results of 2023 and 2024.

It would provide further evidence that Fijiana are beginning to close the gap on the teams immediately above them.

Spain, of course, have their own argument.

Las Leonas have won three straight Tests, captured another Rugby Europe title and have already shown they know how to beat Fiji when the stakes are high.

That makes the opening match an ideal way to begin the Challenger.

The Challenger Begins Sunday

The new WXV era isn’t only about the world’s highest-ranked teams traveling between Europe, North America and the Southern Hemisphere.

There is another competition taking shape in Hong Kong.

Spain and Fiji renew a rivalry that has already decided a WXV title.

Hong Kong China play their 70th Test against an opponent they have never faced.

The Netherlands and Samoa resume a matchup that couldn’t produce a winner the last time they met.

And across three rounds and nine Tests, six nations get another opportunity to show where they belong in the changing landscape of women’s international rugby.

Round One begins September 13.

By the end of the Challenger on September 26, we should know considerably more about which of these programs is ready to take the next step.