Nations Championship Undergoes Major Structural Overhaul

A newly formed entity now dictates international rugby's operational framework. Constituent unions from the Six Nations and Sanzaar created this organization.

The 2028 Nations Championship finals will not take place in Qatar. This decision demands an urgent search for alternative hosts.

France and Spain have expressed informal interest in staging the 2028 finals. England also stands among the interested parties.

The cancellation of the Qatar deal cost approximately £80 million in staging rights and title sponsorship for each tournament. Six Nations and Sanzaar unions expect replacement deals to recoup these funds.

Six Nations and Sanzaar unions indicated that The cancellation of the Qatar deal cost approximately £80 million in staging rights and title sponsorship for each tournament.

A chief executive and a board will oversee the new organization. The board comprises co-chairs and CEOs from 10 founder unions.

These new arrangements will not affect TV rights sales until 2030. All Six Nations and Sanzaar broadcast rights remain secured until 2029.

ITV will broadcast the Nations Championship in the United Kingdom this November. All of England's home matches this month are sold out, as are tickets for the finals weekend.

The Nations Cup includes the next 12 World Cup qualified teams: Georgia, Hong Kong, Portugal, Spain, Romania, Zimbabwe, Canada, Chile, Samoa, Tonga, the US, and Uruguay. Georgia previously beat Wales and Italy; Portugal drew with Wales at the last World Cup.

Promotion and relegation are due for introduction in 2030, with potential implementation by 2032. However, clarity on whether promotion and relegation will remain part of the Nations Championship plans is lacking. Sebastian Pineyrua claims the Six Nations will not allow Wales to be relegated to the Nations Cup.