World Rugby’s massive Nations Championship deal under threat amid Iran war
Ireland taking on South Africa in November 2025 and Twickenham Stadium, which will host the 2026 Nations Championship finals series.
An £80 million sponsorship deal with Qatar Airways is under threat due to the US-Israel war with Iran, according to a report.
Talks have been ongoing with the airline about them becoming becoming the Nations Championship’s title sponsor but, with just under four months before it officially begins, there is a risk that it will collapse due to ongoing conflict in the Gulf.
According to The Times, there are “real fears among the leading rugby unions” that the uncertainty created by the war will result in it not going through.
No response from Qatar
Talks with the Middle East country began over a year ago about an £80 million contract which would cover four tournaments, but those appear to have stalled.
Organisers have duly been in contact with Qatar Airways and have asked “urgent questions” about the delay, but there are concerns that the war is threatening the deal.
One source told The Times: “Questions are being asked of Qatar Airways about the situation but there has been no word back to say what it is happening.
“Clearly, this is a time of uncertainty in that part of the world. There have been lots of positive conversations in recent months but nothing has been signed.”
What’s more, the title sponsorship is being seen as key to the competition’s ability to be a success, although organisers have been happy with the revenue generated by the TV rights.
Nations Championship venues confirmed for Southern Series but it comes with a twist
This year marks the start of the Nations Championship, a biennial tournament which takes place in the July and November Test windows between the best teams in the world.
North faces south as the Six Nations and Rugby Championship countries – plus Japan and Fiji – go head-to-head.
Finals series
There is then a finals series at the end of November where the 12 sides will once again face-off based on their ranking in their respective league tables.
The showpiece event between the top placed northern and southern hemisphere nations is scheduled for November 29.
This year’s finals series is being hosted in London with all six matches on that weekend taking place at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham.
In 2028, when the next Nations Championship is set to held, Qatar’s capital, Doha, has been pencilled in to host the final, with the unions looking to both benefit financially and “expand the global reach of the new competition”, according to The Times.
That is also under threat from the current conflict in the Middle East with nothing as yet being officially signed and sealed.