The television rights to marquee rugby properties like the Six Nations , British and Irish Lions series and Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour could be sold together in future as the world’s top nations attempt to expand the commercial profile of the sport.

The constituent unions of the Six Nations and Sanzaar have formed a new company that will operate the Nations Championship and sell the rights to other competitions.

The organisation will be overseen by a new chief executive with a board formed of two co-chairs and the CEOs of the 10 founder unions: England, Ireland, France, Wales, Scotland, Italy, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina.

It will work to maximise the potential of the Nations Championship, with the inaugural edition concluding this November with a finals weekend at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium . The 2028 finals will no longer be held in Qatar as originally intended, with a sponsorship deal with Qatar Airways off the table.…