Americas Rugby Championship Returns in 2026 with New Format
After a six-year hiatus, the Americas Rugby Championship (ARC) is set to return in October 2026, hosted by Paraguay. The competition will feature a revised format, notably excluding Canada, and will be structured as a Sudamérica Rugby tournament [Americas Rugby News].
Tournament Structure and Participating Teams
The 2026 ARC will be held in Asunción, Paraguay, at the Estadio Héroes de Curupaytí, with matches scheduled for October 9th, 13th, and 17th [Americas Rugby News]. The tournament will consist of two pools of three teams, mirroring the format of the World Rugby Nations Cup. Each team will face opponents from the other pool, with the team accumulating the most competition points being crowned champion [Americas Rugby News].
Participating teams include Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, the USA, and Paraguay. Brazil and Paraguay will field their full test sides, while Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, and the USA will participate with next-of-XV squads, resulting in uncapped fixtures. The sole capped match will be the contest between Brazil and Paraguay, contributing to the World Rugby rankings [Americas Rugby News].
Canada’s Absence and the Pacific Nations Cup
Canada’s absence from the ARC is attributed to the tournament’s operation as a Sudamérica Rugby event [Americas Rugby News]. Both Canada and the USA will instead compete in the 2026 Pacific Nations Cup (PNC), scheduled for August, and September. The PNC will also feature Japan, Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga [Americas Rugby News].
Nations Cup and Future Competitions
Confirmation is expected regarding Chile and Uruguay hosting matches in the Nations Cup, which will serve as a second division to the Nations Championship featuring Argentina, Fiji, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa alongside the Six Nations teams [Americas Rugby News]. South American fixtures in July are anticipated, with potential test matches for Chile and Uruguay against Georgia, Hong Kong, and Romania, followed by November Internationals against Portugal, Spain, and Zimbabwe [Americas Rugby News].
Ignacio Chans also reported the return of the championship on X (formerly Twitter).