New York City has been chosen to host the 2030 World Rugby Nations Championship Final, according to Christy Doran. This will be the third edition of the tournament, following the inaugural competitions set for 2026 and 2028. The exact venue in the New York area has not yet been announced.
The World Rugby Nations Championship is a new biennial competition, designed to be played during the traditional Men’s July and November international windows every two years.
The tournament has faced criticism because it limits opportunities for Tier 2 nations to play against top teams. The competition will feature 12 teams: the Six Nations sides (England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, Wales), the four Rugby Championship teams (New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Argentina), plus Japan and Fiji.
Each team will play three matches in July and three in November. The season will conclude with a final match at the end of the year to crown the champion. Plans for promotion and relegation are being considered, but not before 2030.
Teams such as the USA, Georgia, Samoa, and Uruguay will not participate in the initial editions of the tournament.
By selecting New York for the 2030 final, World Rugby aims to build excitement in the United States ahead of the Rugby World Cup in 2031, which will be hosted by the USA. The final is expected to feature a blockbuster match-up between the top Six Nations team and the best from the rest of the world. Potential fixtures could include France vs. South Africa or England vs. New Zealand.
Venues for the 2026 and 2028 finals have not been confirmed. Doha, Qatar has shown interest in hosting the 2026 final, but the idea has met with mixed reactions. London is being considered as a fallback option. Despite the concerns, Doha and other Middle Eastern locations have not been ruled out entirely.
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