[Image: Geograph]The Rugby Championship will not take place next year, and the current format of the competition is unlikely to be played again until 2029. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, The Springboks’ ongoing Rugby Championship title defence could be the last for a while as there would be no Rugby Championship in 2026, a shortened version in 2027 (a Rugby World Cup year), and again no Rugby Championship in 2028 – before a resumption of the current format in 2029. The shake-up comes as the Rugby Championship has gained momentum in recent years, particularly with the introduction of the “mini-tour” format in 2022. The Springboks have just completed a gruelling two-Test series against the All Blacks and hosted the Wallabies for two Tests last month. Adding another layer of change is the upcoming launch of the Nations Championship in 2026, a 12-team north-south competition featuring cross-hemisphere Tests and a finals weekend in November.