According to reports, the six national football federations may need more support from players after they controversially decided to scrap one of the rest weeks.
From 2026, tournament organizers have proposed shortening the competition period from seven to six weeks, with players only given one weekend off during the championship.
The reason why the tournament change is preferred is because it benefits fans who have tickets to the 6-nation championship and keeps the momentum of the tournament going.
Organisers hope the change will energise fans and get them excited to buy tickets for six consecutive Six Nations matches.
The proposal comes as unions and clubs negotiate a new world league that would be held every two years and start in 2026.
Rugby’s governing bodies have agreed a new blueprint for a global league that would feature a “grand final” between teams from the Northern and Southern Hemisphere every two years, according to Telegraph Sport.
Fans of the Six Nations Championship will be treated to an enhanced version of rugby as the sport’s greatest showdown unfolds.
Additionally, the Six Nations Championship will be ring-fenced under the plan. The new league structure, due to begin in 2026, will feature only summer and autumn window games and will consist of two groups of six teams from each hemisphere: Six Nations and Rugby Championship teams.
Japan and Fiji are also expected to be included.
New format for World League
The current format of the Six Nations Championship has been changed to a ring-fenced format, ending any hopes of South Africa entering European competition or introducing promotion and relegation.
The July transfer window will see Northern Hemisphere teams play away games against three Southern Hemisphere teams, ending the traditional summer tour of two or three Test matches against a host nation.
In November, matches are also played at home stadia in the Northern Hemisphere, with the top teams from each group facing off in the final, while the other teams play in ranking playoffs.
The tournament will be held every two years starting in 2026, with the schedule changing so that each team plays each other over the course of two tournament cycles.
Promotion and relegation from the second tier could be introduced from 2030, with countries including Georgia, Samoa and Tonga set to see this introduced next year.
All stakeholders are confident that this will not diminish the prestige of the Rugby World Cup, which will be promoted as an inter-hemispheric competition.
The future of the British and Irish Lions Tour will be secured, with each country able to hold its traditional tour as usual in Lions years and play more matches against Tier 2 nations to help build momentum.
The grand finale will be held in Qatar!
Qatar is said to be in advanced talks with Six Nations Rugby and Sanjar to host the World Rugby Nations Championship final.
The biennial competition, scheduled to begin in 2026, will feature a first division consisting of 12 teams (Six Rugby Union, Sanjar Union and two confederations) and a second division run by World Rugby, with 12 nations taking part.
The Nations Championships are held during the international periods of July and November. The six teams tour the Southern Hemisphere every two summers, playing three Tests followed by three matches in November.
The Telegraph reports that World Rugby had not initially revealed plans for a ‘finals series’ but Qatar has indicated it is open to hosting such an event.
Qatar’s bid
Qatar’s Supreme Guidance and Heritage Committee proposed the idea to all 12 nations competing in the Nations Championship’s top division last month, and they have now been given an exclusive two-month negotiating period.
The bid has been dubbed the “Super Bowl of Rugby”, with Qatar reportedly proposing a three-day sports festival across several stadiums in Doha, home to the 2022 FIFA World Cup final. It would be the perfect opportunity for fans with tickets to the six-nation tournament.
The proposal included a guaranteed £800 million revenue for Six Nations Rugby and SANZAAR over the first four tournaments of the final series.
With travel costs to Southern Hemisphere countries sky-high, almost every rugby fan will opt to travel to Qatar to watch the world’s two best teams go head-to-head.
Plus, there are more international rugby matches for regular fans who have tickets to the Six Nations competition.
IMG reportedly put forward competing offers to both management agencies but decided to pursue the Qatari option instead.
World Rugby Involvement
World Rugby is understood to be involved in the talks, but the final decision will be made by SANZAAR, which runs Six Nations Rugby and the first division of the Nations Championship.
Unsurprisingly, the report has already drawn criticism from fans given Qatar’s stance on a number of human rights issues, but the potential revenues from rugby union could also have an impact on the governing body.
One of the biggest concerns is whether enough fans will travel to the Middle East for the final series and the player welfare implications of adding another game to an already packed schedule.
Qatar’s interest in hosting the final series comes after World Rugby released a ‘groundbreaking’ report on the impact of climate change on rugby.
Women’s Six Nations Tournament Schedule Announced
Ireland begin next year’s Women’s Six Nations Cup at home to France on Saturday, March 22, before concluding the tournament with a clash with Scotland on Saturday, April 26.
Ireland lost 17-38 to France in the first round of last year’s championships at Le Mans, finishing third behind France and Grand Slam winners Great Britain.
Scott Beamand’s side travel to Italy for their second game on Sunday, March 30, before a two-week break before hosting England on Saturday, April 12.
Ireland travel to Wales on Easter Sunday, April 20, before wrapping up their campaign with their first game of the final day on Saturday, April 26.
Tickets for the Six Nations matches of the Women’s Six Nations Cup will go on sale soon.
