Qatar will no longer host the 2028 Nations Championship finals after uncertainty linked to the war in the Middle East led both sides to withdraw from a proposed agreement. The decision also cancels a planned title sponsorship deal with Qatar Airways.
The agreement, reached after months of negotiations, would have brought the six-match final series to Qatar in 2028 and 2032, with Qatar Airways sponsoring four editions of the competition. The combined hosting and sponsorship package was understood to be worth about £80 million for each tournament held in Qatar.
The Six Nations and the four leading Sanzaar unions that run the competition are confident they can replace the lost funding. France and Spain have already made informal enquiries about hosting in 2028, and an invitation to tender is planned for early next year. The Stade de France is currently considered the most likely venue for the finals.
The Qatar deal’s outline was agreed last year, but the conflict in the region complicated plans. Qatar had opted not to put the agreement into effect before the first matches in July, citing sensitivity around the conflict. The parties later agreed to cancel it as uncertainty continued.
The United States is pencilled in to host the finals in 2030, ahead of its Rugby World Cup in 2031. This year’s inaugural Nations Championship will proceed without a title sponsor. Despite that, the competition is projected to make a profit in its first year, with television rights agreements covering more than 80 broadcasters and 70% of tickets sold for the finals weekend.
The finals will be played over three days at Allianz Stadium at Twickenham, with the grand final scheduled for Sunday, 29 November. The top-ranked team from each region will meet to decide the championship, alongside matches between teams finishing in corresponding positions.
Sources: The Guardian Sport.