Qatar looks set to be rejected as a destination for the Nations Championship finals.
It has been reported that the Six Nations countries and their counterparts from The Rugby Championship as well as two more sides, likely to be Fiji and Japan, had been offered £800m to feature in the “Super Bowl’’ of rugby union that would be staged in Doha.
These events would comprise six matches in 2026, 2028, 2030 and 2032, each of them acting as a finale to the first four editions of the Nations Championship, a biennial enterprise that will aim to bring added significance to Test matches in July and November windows.
According to a report in the Daily Mail, however, unions are to resist the sum over concerns that it would cause significant reputational damage to the sport because of Qatar’s human rights record. A lack of travelling supporters has been cited as another reason that Doha will be passed over as a host.
The Daily Mail suggested that the Qatar bid has been subject to an exclusive negotiation phase of two months, during which “other interested parties, including sovereign wealth funds” have surfaced as potential suitors. The USA, bound to host the 2031 World Cup, has been mooted as a contender.
This news comes in the week that the British and Irish Lions announced Qatar Airways as its official airline partner for the 2025 tour to Australia, underlining the increasing presence of Middle Eastern investment in the sport despite these developments.
The introduction of the Nations Championship was formally announced last year, with the first edition set for 2026.
Two six-team conferences will be occupied separately by the Six Nations countries and The Rugby Championship sides, plus two more invited contestants.
A second tier will also be established, with promotion and relegation between two divisions to commence in 2030.
Source link : https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2024/07/27/qatar-unlikely-destination-the-nations-championship-finals/
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Publish date : 2024-07-27 01:36:00
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