Autumn Nations Series 2025: Who is your team facing this November?

England swept Argentina and the USA in style, Ireland’s youngsters ran riot in Georgia and Portugal, Wales finally ended their 18-match losing streak with a gritty win in Japan, and Scotland notched two victories from three in their Pacific tour.

France blooded new talent against the All Blacks in a tough New Zealand series, while Italy endured bruising lessons in South Africa after thrashing Namibia. Each team has taken something different from their travels, either confidence, resilience, or harsh reality checks. The real tests are soon begin against the southern hemisphere’s finest, with a stacked Autumn Nations Series coming over the horizon.

What a southern contingent it is. The Rugby Championship is producing its most dramatic season in years, with all four sides locked on two wins apiece after four rounds. South Africa stunned the rugby world in Wellington with a record-breaking 43–10 demolition of New Zealand this past weekend, the heaviest defeat in All Blacks history, while Argentina edged Australia 28–26 in Sydney to claim their first Championship win on Australian soil since 2018.

With two rounds to go, the southern giants are trading blows at their fiercest, setting the perfect stage for their northern tours in November. From Twickenham to the Aviva, Murrayfield to the Principality, every weekend in November will bring blockbuster fixtures that could shape narratives heading into the next World Cup cycle. Here’s how each of the home nations – and their European neighbours France and Italy – are shaping up, and who they’ll be facing this Autumn.

England’s summer tour of the Americas delivered exactly what Steve Borthwick would have hoped for: a clean sweep, hardened depth, and a new wave of emerging talent. After two hard-fought wins over Argentina, England closed their campaign in Washington D.C. with a commanding victory over the United States, ending the tour unbeaten and building crucial momentum.

England head coach Steve Borthwick has bolstered his backroom team ahead of the Autumn Nations Series by bringing in former Wasps boss Lee Blackett. Blackett, who has also coached with the Scarlets and Connacht, is regarded as a sharp attacking mind and will be tasked with adding greater fluency to England’s backline play.

The schedule is unforgiving: Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and Argentina. With the Rugby Championship producing one of the tightest contests in history, all four of England’s opponents will be battle-hardened. Twickenham will demand results, and this series offers Borthwick a chance to test his squad against the very best before looking towards 2026.

Sat 1 Nov: England v Australia – Allianz Stadium, Twickenham – KO 3:10pm

Sat 8 Nov: England v Fiji – Allianz Stadium, Twickenham – KO 5:40pm

Sat 15 Nov: England v New Zealand – Allianz Stadium, Twickenham – KO 3:10pm

Sun 23 Nov: England v Argentina – Allianz Stadium, Twickenham – KO 4:10pm

Wales step into a new era this autumn under head coach Steve Tandy, who takes over after Warren Gatland’s long and decorated tenure. Tandy, a former Ospreys boss and Scotland defence coach, inherits a squad that finally broke its 18-match losing streak this summer with a gritty 31–22 win in Kobe after falling narrowly in the first Test against Japan.

The result brought relief and belief, with youngsters like Dan Edwards and Kieran Hardy stepping up to embark on a new era.The challenge now is consistency. Wales’ November schedule is unforgiving, featuring Argentina, Japan, New Zealand and world champions South Africa.

With the Rugby Championship locked in a four-way battle, each opponent arrives sharp and hungry. For Tandy, it’s a baptism of fire, but also a chance to put his stamp on a new-look Welsh side.

Sun 9 Nov: Wales v Argentina – Principality Stadium, Cardiff – KO 3:10pm

Sat 15 Nov: Wales v Japan – Principality Stadium, Cardiff – KO 5:40pm

Sat 22 Nov: Wales v New Zealand – Principality Stadium, Cardiff – KO 3:10pm

Sat 29 Nov: Wales v South Africa – Principality Stadium, Cardiff – KO 3:10pm

Ireland’s summer tour to Georgia and Portugal delivered more than just game time for the future stars, it offered a glimpse into a promising new era. With 15 senior internationals away on British & Irish Lions duty, along with the majority of the IRFU's coaching staff, interim head coach Paul O’Connell led a youthful Irish squad to emphatic wins, capped by a record-breaking 106–7 victory over Portugal in Lisbon.

November brings an altogether different challenge. The All Blacks, Wallabies, Brave Blossoms and Springboks await in Dublin and abroad, with Ireland’s Autumn Nations Series beginning in Chicago against New Zealand.

Sat 1 Nov: Ireland v New Zealand – Soldier Field, Chicago – KO 8:00pm (3:00pm local)

Sat 8 Nov: Ireland v Japan – Aviva Stadium, Dublin – KO 12:40pm

Sat 15 Nov: Ireland v Australia – Aviva Stadium, Dublin – KO 8:10pm

Sat 22 Nov: Ireland v South Africa – Aviva Stadium, Dublin – KO 5:40pm

Scotland’s Pacific tour provided highs and lows in equal measure. They claimed a solid win over the Māori All Blacks and closed our with a commanding victory over Samoa at Eden Park, though a bruising defeat in Fiji highlighted vulnerabilities. Still, with two wins from three, Gregor Townsend’s men showed depth and adaptability despite yo-yoing Lions call-ups disrupting their squad, and the Summer long absence of talisman Finn Russell.

The Autumn Nations Series hands them two Rugby Championship heavyweights, alongside Tonga and the USA. Argentina and New Zealand will be especially motivated after their recent Rugby Championship duels, while Tonga always offer a physical hurdle whilst the USA are constantly elevating their own game. It’s a schedule that will test every corner of Townsend’s depth chart.

Sat 1 Nov: Scotland v USA – Murrayfield, Edinburgh – KO 5:40pm

Sat 8 Nov: Scotland v New Zealand – Murrayfield, Edinburgh – KO 3:10pm

Sun 16 Nov: Scotland v Argentina – Murrayfield, Edinburgh – KO 3:10pm

Sun 23 Nov: Scotland v Tonga – Murrayfield, Edinburgh – KO 1:40pm

France’s youthful squad endured a baptism of fire in New Zealand this summer, falling to a 3–0 series defeat but gaining invaluable experience in the process. Nolann Le Garrec, Cameron Woki and Mickaël Guillard were among those to enhance their reputations, even as the All Blacks proved too polished across three Tests.

Back in Europe, Fabien Galthié’s men face a daunting November: South Africa, Fiji and Australia all visiting French soil. France will relish the chance to test their depth further in front of raucous home crowds, with Les Blues' sights set upon building towards their Six Nations title retention next year.

Sat 8 Nov: France v South Africa – Stade de France, Paris – KO 8:10pm (9:10pm local)

Sat 15 Nov: France v Fiji – Stade Atlantique, Bordeaux – KO 8:10pm (9:10pm local)

Sat 22 Nov: France v Australia – Stade de France, Paris – KO 8:10pm (9:10pm local)

Italy’s summer tour began with a flourish as they dismantled Namibia 73–6, but reality quickly struck in back-to-back defeats to South Africa, including a sobering 45–0 shutout in Gqeberha. Gonzalo Quesada’s side showed flashes of quality, particularly from Ange Capuozzo and Montanna Ioane, but consistency against Tier One opposition remains elusive.

The Autumn offers another chance to test their mettle, with the Springboks, Wallabies and Samoa all on the schedule. Italy will need every ounce of resilience if they’re to turn lessons into results against opponents fresh from the Rugby Championship and Pacific Nations Cup grind.

Sat 8 Nov: Italy v Australia – Bluenergy Stadium, Udine – KO 5:40pm (6:40pm local)

Sat 15 Nov: Italy v South Africa – Allianz Stadium, Turin – KO 12:40pm (1:40pm local)

Sat 22 Nov: Italy v Samoa – Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Genoa – KO 8:10pm (9:10pm local)