Qatar has reportedly tabled an extraordinary multi-billion dollar offer to host the finals of rugby union’s new Nations Championship tournament starting in 2026. According to reports in the British media, Qatar has proposed staging a three-day “Superbowl of rugby” finals event featuring the top teams from both hemispheres.

The proposal from the Gulf state would see Qatar host the climax of the new annual Nations Championship over an eight-year period from 2026 to 2032. The lucrative bid promises commercial returns of around £800 million (US$1.68 billion) for the nations involved.

Under the plan, the finals would utilize stadiums built for the 2022 FIFA World Cup which Qatar hosted last year. The three-day finals event would feature playoff matches between the top six nations in each four-year cycle, culminating in a grand final to crown the Nations Championship winner.

The 12-team Nations Championship is a new international competition set to launch in 2026, featuring the Six Nations teams from Europe and the Rugby Championship teams from the southern hemisphere, plus two other qualified nations.

The Daily Mail reports that Qatar’s bid was sent to the Six Nations and SANZAAR governing bodies last week, with a seven-day deadline to enter exclusive negotiations over the money-spinning finals hosting rights.

Major rugby powers like New Zealand, England and South Africa have so far declined to comment on the Qatari proposal. But the prospect of huge commercial windfalls may prove extremely enticing for cashstrapped national unions.

If accepted, the bold cross-continental bid would see one of rugby’s biggest new events being staged in non-traditional territory in the Middle East. But with Qatar already hosting major soccer tournaments, the nation appears determined to establish itself as a global hub for a variety of sports.

Source: The Daily Mail, The New Zealand Herald