It's FAIR to criticise the new Nations Championship in Qatar... but rugby must continue to move forward or risk being left behind, writes SIR CLIVE WOODWARD

I can understand the reticence some rugby fans have about the finals of the new Nations Championship likely being played in Qatar from 2026.

I do get where supporters are coming from with concerns over whether our sport is losing sight of its values by taking big matches to the Middle East and away from rugby heartlands, its historic stadiums, and where most fans are based.

But what I would say is that I am currently involved in projects in the area so unlike many, I have first-hand experience of what it's like out there and how such events are being delivered.

It is my belief that rugby, like other sports, needs to keep moving forward and embracing new opportunities or risk being left behind.

If anything, rugby has been too slow to act. Other sports – such as football, boxing, golf and darts – have already taken high-profile events to countries such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

They have had success in doing so. I also think in the long term that the creation of LIV Golf and the big-money Saudi investment will prove to be a good thing for their sport as well.

As I've made clear previously, the Nations Championship – which will take place every two years – is far from perfect because it is run by the Six Nations unions and the big southern hemisphere teams. I do worry that with its creation, the tier-one countries will only move further ahead of the developing nations. However, if Qatar does play host to the Nations Championship finals and a reported £800million in revenue can be raised, it is vital that a significant part of that money goes to countries like Georgia, Portugal, and others who are looking to grow their rugby.

Of course, I would also like to see big games take place and the top teams play away in these countries as well.

World Rugby must be transparent and make every effort to show how taking the game to the Middle East will help the developing rugby nations, not just deepen the pockets of the Six Nations and Rugby Championship sides. The Nations Championship is a new competition.

To succeed, it needs to set itself apart and not get lost amongst the Rugby Championship, Six Nations, World Cup and the Champions Cup which all play out in similar environments.

Ultimately, the truth is that rugby has fallen far behind other sports in terms of finance and marketing. You can see that by the fact that even the leading unions and clubs are currently struggling on a monetary basis. It's no surprise to me that the offer from Qatar is likely to prove too attractive to turn down.

Individuals can decide for themselves on whether that's a good thing or bad. Everyone is entitled to their opinion.

But personally, I do not think rugby is selling its soul if the sport's administrators go down this path.

In today's global world, sport operates within a commercial market and rugby has to at the very least keep up with its rivals to have a chance of success. I'm sure some people will say rugby shouldn't be played in countries such as Qatar or Saudi because of human rights issues.

Again, they are allowed to take that view. But from my experience of working in the Middle East, I would say countries in the region are looking to move on from the past. And, let's be honest, every country has things they are not proud of. That includes England and the legacy of the British Empire.

We should be encouraging all countries to join the rugby family, embrace the game's values, and grow the sport across the globe. In potentially hosting the Nations Championship, I would expect Qatar to welcome fans in the same way we saw them enjoy the 2022 football World Cup which was a success.

It is imperative Qatar supports every effort rugby is making to be more inclusive.

Players and coaches travelling to Qatar to play does raise some concerns in terms of their welfare and the impact on the environment. One wonders how many fans will travel too.

But, so long as all these things are considered and those who take to the field are looked after, I think it can have a positive, long-term impact on the sport.

Rugby is struggling badly as it is and it simply has to move with the times. If it doesn't, it will only fall further behind than it is already.