Nations Championship?

[antipodean]

@MiketheSnow said in Six Nations, SANZAAR New tournaments in 2026:

In this RWC cycle (2019-2023), Wales has played

Canada
Georgia x 2
Fiji

Should have played Japan but it was cancelled due to COVID

So the plan does work if we're including Wales. It means teams can move from second tier to consistent competition with tier one nations...

[Catogrande]

@MiketheSnow

I had to look up our fixtures over the same period and was surprised at how many Tier 2 matches we'd played:-

Georgia
USA
Canada
Tonga
Japan
Fiji

Edit: Not including current RWC games clearly.

[Victor Meldrew]

@GibbonRib

I like the idea overall, but they had an opportunity to help the smaller countries by tweaking the games and the promotion-relegation rules but seem to have blown it.

As @Catogrande said, it seems like pull up the drawbridge and throw a bone to the minnows.

[dogmeat]

@Catogrande
AB's have played exactly the same Tier 2 Nations between RWC's except in our case replace Georgia with Australia

[Kiwiwomble]

@GibbonRib said in Six Nations, SANZAAR New tournaments in 2026:

@frugby said in Six Nations, SANZAAR New tournaments in 2026:

I think the better way to give the T2 sides more games, is adding midweek games to the schedule. All Blacks already take 35+ players on a Northern tour... could easily add 2-3 extras and add in games vs Portugal and Romania for example. You don't want to be reducing the quantity of tests between the T1 teams for pointless games (which is what they are as a contest) that won't engage the fan, particularly the casual fan.

We all joked about the Qatar Airways Cup, but Twickenham was sold out (?)... if that was NZ v Portugal, it wouldn't even be half full.

All Blacks v Portugal/Romania is pointless, contest-wise. But Italy v Georgia, or Samoa v Wales, or Portugal v Japan, isn't - those are the fixtures that rugby needs more of

All Blacks v Portugal/Romania does have value as far as raising some interest, selling tickets for the home union etc, look at the All White when they get to play some of the bigger names, whole lot of press, sell out a stadium etc

i kind of feel the same top teams only playing the same top teams just stagnates things

[Duluth]

Matt Hughes  /  Apr 29  /  Rugby

Qatar emerge as surprise bidders for the Nations Championship finals

EXCLUSIVE BY MATT HUGHES: Qatar have made a surprise bid to host the finals of the new Nations Championship from 2026 in a three-day festival they are billing as a

[Machpants]

@Duluth said in Six Nations, SANZAAR New tournaments in 2026:

Matt Hughes  /  Apr 29  /  Rugby

Qatar emerge as surprise bidders for the Nations Championship finals

EXCLUSIVE BY MATT HUGHES: Qatar have made a surprise bid to host the finals of the new Nations Championship from 2026 in a three-day festival they are billing as a

It makes me sick, all these great games going to ME with no local support. golf, soccer. But rugby needs the $$$

[Kiwiwomble]

if they want it in a neutral venue half way between NH and SH then have it in LA (i know they probably havent bid)...somewhere theyre trying to grow the sport...and has a respectable domestic rugby comp

[Frank]

This made me laugh - "When i think of rugby, my mind automatically thinks of Qatar first. William Webb Ellis’ dream will at last bear fruit."

[Winger]

@Machpants said in Six Nations, SANZAAR New tournaments in 2026:

But rugby needs the $$$

It does.

And I will watch on TV so couldn't give a toss where it's held. And isn't it just for one round of matches

£800M is VG money too (£200M or NZ400M per yr). Esp if NZ have their home games there. It would add variety

[Winger]

@Kiwiwomble said in Six Nations, SANZAAR New tournaments in 2026:

then have it in LA

ReallY. Playing rugby in the US has a boring factor IMHO

[Dan54]

@Winger said in Six Nations, SANZAAR New tournaments in 2026:

@Machpants said in Six Nations, SANZAAR New tournaments in 2026:

But rugby needs the $$$

It does.

And I will watch on TV so couldn't give a toss where it's held. And isn't it just for one round of matches

£800M is VG money too (£200M or NZ400M per yr). Esp if NZ have their home games there. It would add variety

Kind of understand your reasoning mate. Like you I won't be going , so where it's played makes no difference. And the fact it's neutral country perhaps isn't worst thing.
Not absolutely sold on it quite yet, but looking at reason why it would be good to hold it there. No doubt with a bit of thought will find negatives, but would need to research it a bit more.

[Dodge]

sad reality of professional sport - I think the only concern is that the stadiums will be empty which is a horrible look.

[antipodean]

@Kiwiwomble said in Six Nations, SANZAAR New tournaments in 2026:

if they want it in a neutral venue half way between NH and SH then have it in LA (i know they probably havent bid)...somewhere theyre trying to grow the sport...and has a respectable domestic rugby comp

Yeah, nah

[dogmeat]

@Dodge NZ players will at least be used to it.

Will Qatari finances be stretched by having to move Japan south of the equator?

[Duluth]

Rugby, Sport

The $1.6b deal to host rugby's 'Super Bowl'

Plans for biennial six-match ‘Super Bowl’ series in Doha.

[Canes4life]

@Duluth I'm not against this, would bring much needed eyeballs and $$ to the game. Doha though, would they even get any fans to the games and what's the temperature like over there?

[dogmeat]

@Canes4life expats?

They had air conditioned stadia for the 2022 WC

[Canes4life]

@dogmeat said in Nations Championship?:

@Canes4life expats?

They had air conditioned stadia for the 2022 WC

Will be interesting indeed, hope it's a success.

[dogmeat]

Plenty of people climbed into FIFA for supporting Qatari sportswashing.

Wonder if the reaction will be more subdued. I expect so. Every sporting body seems eager to suck on the oil enriched teats of the sheiks