Content creator, Nika van der Merwe, breaks down the key international rugby tournaments to watch this year in a fun and easy-to-follow video series.
Scotland, United Kingdom (12 January 2026) – If rugby has ever felt confusing, overwhelming or like something you only half-follow, Nika van der Merwe might have just changed the game.
The content creator recently shared a video introducing The Girlie’s Guide to Rugby: 2026, a series aimed at breaking the sport down in a way that feels welcoming, easy to follow and genuinely fun. Captioned “What a year ahead for the best game in the world”, the clip sets the tone for what promises to be a go-to guide for both seasoned supporters and those still figuring out what a scrum actually is.
Nika is married to an international rugby player, Duhan van der Merwe who plays for Edinburgh in the United Rugby Championship (URC) and the Scotland national team. Born in South Africa, he represents Scotland having qualified on residency grounds.
In the video, Nika introduces herself and her rugby credentials with humour, explaining being married to a rugby player and has been around the sport for over a decade.
Here are the important tournaments she highlights:
- Men’s Six Nations, running from February to March, describing it as the perfect entry point for anyone new to rugby and a showcase of Northern Hemisphere rivalries.
- Next up is the Women’s Six Nations, which follows in April and May. Nika highlights the intensity, atmosphere and growing popularity of the women’s game.
- One of the standout moments in the guide is her breakdown of the new Nations Championship, a global competition running from July to November. The tournament brings together top teams from both hemispheres, including South Africa, New Zealand, England, France and Australia, creating high-stakes matchups well ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
- She wraps up with the WXV Global Series, taking place between September and October, which brings women’s teams from across the world together and plays a key role in the continued growth of the women’s game.
The Girlie’s Guide to Rugby feels like a timely reminder that rugby doesn’t have to be intimidating. So here’s a perfect start, maybe in the future she will also go into further detail highlighting club competitions like the United Rugby Championship (URC), Premiership Rugby and Top 14.
For the girlies (or anyone really) looking to understand the sport better or finally keep up with what’s happening and when, this series is a solid place to start.
Sources: Nika van der Merwe
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