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TheDAILY LEDGER
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Rugby

Six Nations to expand to eight teams by 2028, board confirms

Georgia and one of Portugal, Romania or Spain will join a restructured tournament by 2028. Home Unions signalled “cautious support”.

E
By Ellis Craven, Rugby Correspondent•21 days ago
Six Nations to expand to eight teams by 2028, board confirms
Bigger tournament.  The Six Nations board confirms an eight-team format from 2028. Picture: Ledger

The Six Nations board on Wednesday confirmed what everyone in the game had for months expected: the tournament will expand to eight teams by 2028, with Georgia and one further nation joining a restructured competition.

The second new entrant will come from Portugal, Romania or Spain and will be decided after a two-year qualifying series. The RFU and the other Home Unions signalled “cautious support”, with the caveat, several sources said, that the calendar “cannot get any longer”.

Players, informed at the same time as the media, appeared to have taken it well. “More rugby is more rugby,” the England captain said. “Ask me again after the second Georgia game.”