The reported cancellation covers the 2028 and 2032 finals and Qatar Airways’ sponsorship of four editions. France and Spain have expressed informal interest in 2028, with a hosting tender planned for the start of 2027.
Qatar and the Nations Championship have mutually agreed to cancel plans for the country to host the rugby union competition’s six-match finals series in 2028 and 2032, the Guardian said. The agreement also ends planned title sponsorship by Qatar Airways for four editions, leaving organizers to find replacement hosts and sponsorship.
The outline agreement dated from 2025. The competition is run through a joint commercial venture of the Six Nations and the four SANZAAR rugby unions, representing South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina.
The Guardian said regional escalation after US airstrikes on Iran in March 2026 complicated the deal. Qatar’s government deferred implementation before the July matches because of sensitivity around the conflict.
In its June 2026 account, the Guardian said contracts had not been signed, although the state-owned airline remained committed. November was then considered the likeliest start for Qatar Airways branding under a proposed partnership running through 2032. That delayed start has now given way to the reported cancellation.
The Guardian estimates that hosting rights and title sponsorship together would have been worth around £80 million per tournament held in Qatar. It values the sponsorship component of the wider package at £15 million (about $20.1 million), with most of the package’s value in hosting rights. These are reported valuations, not confirmed contractual payments or a cancellation settlement.
The Six Nations and the four SANZAAR unions are confident replacement agreements can recover the expected funds. That revenue has not yet been secured.
France and Spain have expressed informal interest in hosting in 2028, and the Nations Championship plans to invite hosting bids at the start of 2027. Neither expression of interest amounts to a replacement hosting award.
The newspaper regards the Stade de France as the likeliest venue for that edition at this stage. It also says the US is tentatively proposed to host in 2030, ahead of hosting the Rugby World Cup in 2031.
The inaugural 2026 competition continues without a title sponsor, with its finals scheduled for three days at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium at the end of November. The Guardian says the tournament is still projected to make a first-year profit, with significant growth expected in later years.
Television rights agreements are in place with more than 80 broadcasters, and 70% of finals-weekend tickets have been sold. Sellouts are expected once the fixtures are confirmed.
The highest-ranked team from each region is scheduled to contest the championship final on 29 November 2026. The remaining teams will face their corresponding regional finishers during the same weekend.
Latvia and the Czech Republic’s federations also joined the refusal. Canada’s prime minister says Russian and Belarusian athletes will not compete for their countries in Canada while Russia and Belarus continue to support the war in Ukraine.
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The tournament is delayed by about 11 months. The proposed replacement dates, 23 December 2027 to 21 January 2028, still require FIFA approval.
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Saudi Arabia’s Rami Rahmouni won in 3:47.86, replacing his national record of 3:50.27, ahead of Russia’s Bogdan Toropkin in 3:50.46 and Mexico’s Daniel Saborio in 3:52.72. In women’s rugby sevens, Kenya beat Australia 17–12 with a golden-point try for gold, while Madagascar beat Czechia 26–10 for bronze.
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