It's a bitter blow for rugby union as Qatar Airways has dramatically pulled out of its £80m sponsorship deal for the Nations Championship – just days before the inaugural tournament kicks off. The state-owned airline, which had promised to bring a huge injection of cash and glamour to the competition, has reportedly paused its involvement due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
While Qatar Airways remains committed to the long-term partnership, which includes hosting two finals in the Qatari capital, contracts have yet to be formally signed. Sources close to the negotiations suggest that senior figures within the Qatari government believe it's not the right time to announce a new global sponsorship deal amidst regional turmoil.
The absence of a title sponsor for the Nations Championship's initial phase is a major headache, but the tournament's finances appear to be in good shape. Media rights deals with 80 global broadcasters have underwritten the competition's revenues, and ITV has landed the live UK broadcast rights for a staggering £90m. In France, TF1 has snapped up free-to-air rights, highlighting the Nations Championship's appeal across different markets.
When the tournament kicks off on July 4th, fans can expect some mouth-watering clashes – including South Africa taking on England, New Zealand facing France, and Australia battling Ireland. The competition involves the six top European teams playing against southern hemisphere opposition, with matches split between July and November. It's a radical new format designed to inject context and commercial value into international rugby.
The Nations Championship is a joint venture between the Six Nations and Sanzaar unions, with projected revenues for the first two tournaments in 2024 and 2028 estimated at around £500m. The initial final will be held at Twickenham, while Qatar has been awarded hosting rights for the 2028 and 2032 finals – sparking speculation about a potential US venue for the 2030 showpiece.