Henry Pollock reckons England will be firing on all cylinders at the 2027 World Cup thanks to the new challenge of the Nations Championship. Twelve of the best international rugby teams – six from the Northern Hemisphere and six from the Southern Hemisphere – will compete in a Ryder Cup-style format.

The first part of the new competition kicks off on July 4 and runs for three consecutive weekends. It will then continue for four further weekends from November 6.

England will face all six Southern Hemisphere teams; Argentina, Australia, Fiji, Japan, South Africa and New Zealand. All Northern Hemisphere sides will face those opponents once.

There will be two league tables separating both Northern and Southern teams, which then leads to a Finals weekend which kicks off on November 27.

It will be the last time Steve Borthwick’s men get to test themselves against some of their World Cup contenders. And Pollock is hoping that by facing some of the toughest teams on the planet it will stand England in good sted to challenge for the World Cup.

“It’s going to give the team a bit of motivation instead of having two different blocks, it’s gonna be one, all merged together,” Pollock said. “It’s going to be knock out rugby towards the end of it which is great for us, great for all teams to get that World Cup experience before the World Cup starts, so we’re looking forward to that kind of challenge playing away and then also coming back and playing home in November.

“Our biggest rivals in the south are the best in the world, South Africa. They’ve beenamazing over the last couple years and they’re definitely a team that are going to be reallygood in this tournament. I’m looking forward to facing South Africa, I haven’t played them at this level yet so I’m looking forward to going up against them.

“It’s going to be really exciting having the Southern Hemisphere come up and test itself against the Northern Hemisphere. Normally in a calendar year you’ll play one Southern Hemisphere team in the summer window and then two or three in the autumn so it’s really exciting that we’re going to be able to go against different teams from different countries all around the world and then ultimately come together as one and play in one big tournament which is going to be really cool.”

And his prediction for the eventual winner?

“South Africa are looking very strong, France are looking very good, so I’d be surprised if those two teams weren’t there or thereabouts. England hopefully can do well in this tournament too,” he added.

Fans can book their ticket to Finals wekeend at Twickenham here