Wales to play first ever late night Saturday match in Cardiff as plans announced
Wales will host Japan, New Zealand and Australia in Cardiff after facing Fiji, Argentina and South Africa this summer
The kick-off times for Wales' 2026 Nations Championship fixtures have been confirmed, with fans set for the latest ever start to a Welsh international match at the Principality Stadium.
The first edition of the new biennial 12-team tournament kicks off in July, with the best teams from the northern and southern hemisphere pitted against each other. Wales join fellow Six Nations sides England, Scotland, Ireland, France and Italy in representing the north, with the southern hemisphere represented by Australia, Argentina, South Africa and New Zealand, as well as Fiji and Japan.
Steve Tandy's side will kick off their campaign with an 'away' fixture against Fiji at the Cardiff City Stadium on July 4, before travelling to Argentina and South Africa later that month as part of the summer window.
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In November, however, it will fall to Wales to play hosts, with Japan, New Zealand and Australia all visiting the Principality Stadium before a finals weekend in London at the end of that month.
The timings for all of Wales' matches have now been confirmed, with the summer campaign getting underway with a 2.10pm kick-off against Fiji in Cardiff. Those tuning into watch Tandy's side take on the Pumas in San Juan a week later, meanwhile, will have to do so at 8.10pm UK time, while the clash with the Springboks will kick off at 4.40pm UK time.
In the autumn, meanwhile, Wales' opening two fixtures against Japan and the All Blacks start at 4.40pm and 2.10pm respectively, but fans are set for a late one when Australia come to town on November 21.
That final game will kick-off at 8.10pm, by far the latest time a Saturday game has got underway at the stadium. Previously, the latest kick-off time on a Saturday in Cardiff has been 5.40pm, with some Friday games getting started at 8pm.
It will mean that the match will likely wrap up after 10pm, with changes to public transport expected to be brought in to deal with the later scheduling.
You can find the full details around kick-off times and dates below.
Seat Unique offers VIP hospitality tickets for Wales' autumn internationals including New Zealand and Australia.
Wales' Nations Championship fixtures and kick-off times
JULY WINDOW:
- Fiji v Wales - Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff - July 4, 2.10pm
- Argentina v Wales - Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario, San Juan - July 11, 8.10pm UK time (4.10pm local time)
- South Africa v Wales - Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban - July 18, 4.40pm UK time (5.40pm local time)
NOVEMBER WINDOW:
- Wales v Japan - Principality Stadium, Cardiff - November 7, 4.40pm
- Wales v New Zealand - Principality Stadium, Cardiff - November 14, 2.10pm
- Wales v Australia - Principality Stadium, Cardiff - November 21, 8.10pm