IRFU chief drops Qatar Nations Championship hint and addresses Ireland’s return to Croke Park

IRFU CEO Kevin Potts has hinted that rugby union bosses are in talks with Qatar over hosting the Nations Championship final series and addressed the possibility of Ireland Test matches at Croke Park.

Last week, reports emerged that the SANZAAR and Six Nations Rugby bosses favoured a £800 million bid from Qatar to host what has been described as ‘the Super Bowl of Rugby’.

With World Rugby’s controversial biennial Nations Championship set to kick off in 2026, the Middle Eastern country has moved to launch a bid to host a final series of the competition – something that was not included in the initial plans.

Qatar to host the Super Bowl of Rugby?

According to a report by the Telegraph, the Qatar bid proposes a three-day sporting festival at multiple venues in Doha, with the proposal including guarantees of £800 million in revenue for Six Nations Rugby and SANZAAR for the first four editions of the final series.

Despite a competing bid from IMG, Six Nations Rugby and SANZAAR have reportedly chosen to engage in exclusive negotiations with Qatar.

Speaking at a media conference, IRFU boss Kevin Potts was rather guarded when asked about the reports, understandably, as it is understood that the unions signed a non-disclosure agreement.

“I can’t comment on this. It is not something that I can discuss today,” he said.

When pressed, he added: “It is not something that I can go to right now. When I can talk about it, I will.”

The initial reports received major backlash from fans who slammed Qatar for sportswashing with the country’s notorious human rights record.

‘Selling its soul to the highest bidder’ – Fans blast rugby’s talks with Qatar over Nations Championship

Ireland playing in GAA stadiums?

Meanwhile, Potts was also asked whether the Ireland national team could play at GAA stadiums in the future after major success with Munster and Leinster hosting fixtures at Páirc Uí Chaoimh and Croke Park.

Fans packed into the significantly bigger GAA stadiums compared to that of their rugby counterparts but despite the lure of more profitable fixtures, Potts said it was unlikely that Ireland would host Tests in those stadiums.

“Croke Park, they did sell out in three hours which was actually remarkable,” Potts said referring to Leinster’s Champions Cup semi-final against Northampton Saints.

“We were all taken by that. My own family members were struggling to get tickets, they were gone, as we all know. Croke Park and our friends in the GAA are very friendly to Irish rugby and Leinster have access to it when the Aviva isn’t available next year, Munster have access to Páirc Uí Chaoimh and the collaboration is fantastic.

“But if you’re asking me, will there be a Test played there? No. The home of Irish rugby is the Aviva Stadium and that’s where our Test games will be played.”

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