Qatar Airways has put its £80m sponsorship of rugby union’s new Nations Championship on hold due to the fallout from the war in the Middle East.
The Guardian has learned that while the state-owned airline remains committed to the deal, contracts have not been signed, and the inaugural edition of the new competition will kick off next week without a title sponsor.
Senior figures within the Qatari government are understood to have concluded that it would be inappropriate to announce a new global sponsorship at a time of continuing…
