The upcoming Nations Championship will not take place in Qatar after rugby chiefs decided against playing the finals in the Middle East, according to a report.

The biennial tournament is set to begin in 2026 with a top division of 12 teams (the Six Nations unions, SANZAAR unions and two further unions) and a second division, run by World Rugby, consisting of a further 12 nations.

The Nations Championship will be played during the July and November international windows, with the Six Nations teams touring to the southern hemisphere for three Tests every other summer before hosting three matches in November.

Proposal rejected

Six Nations and SANZAAR were reportedly in advanced negotiations to take the competition to Qatar, but they appear to have rejected that proposal for now, the Daily Mail has reported.

According to the newspaper, rugby chiefs were aware of the potential reputational damage staging the event in the country could bring, given that their human rights record has been heavily criticised.

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There were also fears about playing the tournament in stadiums which could well be empty due to the distance fans of the competing nations would have to travel.

The big money deal has always been seen as a tempting prospect for the respective unions, considering the financial struggles of a number of the nations.

New bidders

However, other interested parties have reportedly come forward since the news of Qatar’s bid, which was described as a ‘Super Bowl of rugby’ was revealed, which may have swayed the hierarchy’s decision.

Qatar entered an exclusive negotiation phase of two months, during which other potential suitors expressed an interest, and they can now put forward their proposals.

It is understood that the USA could be one of the contenders to host the event as rugby looks to increase its popularity ahead of the Rugby World Cup.

The World Cup is will be played in the US in 2031, but there is plenty for the relevant authorities to improve on if it is to be a success in seven years’ time.

Rugby has struggled to make ground in the States but the Nations Championship, alongside the Olympics sevens in Los Angeles in 2028, could change that.

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