Prem Rugby needs to switch up its calendar to stop final being banished to fringes Sport Business Ollie Phillips argues that on this super weekend for sport in the capital, Prem Rugby could do more to be noticed. London is on its very best form this weekend: some of the world’s most exciting male tennis players will contest the HSBC Championships semi-finals and final at The Queen’s Club in Baron’s Court; England [...]
Do the Prem Rugby semi-finals need a Welsh URC team? Sport Business Ahead of this weekend’s Prem Rugby’s semi-finals, Ollie Phillips assesses whether they could do with a hint of Wales. Picture the scene: next year’s Prem Rugby semi-finals feature the top three teams from this year – Northampton Saints, Bath Rugby and Exeter Chiefs – plus one of the Scarlets, Ospreys, Dragons or Cardiff. This would, [...]
Rugby needs its Premier League to step up and take control, Raine says Sport Business Merchant bank Raine Group has warned that professional rugby is not big enough for “five or six leagues” and that it is “time for someone to put the hammer down” and become the sport’s equivalent to the Premier League. Rugby union has been going through a crisis of late, with different leagues using different structures [...]
Why investors will be keeping a close eye on rugby’s Nations Championship June 7, 2026 The Nations Championship begins in a month and it will be a stress test for investors looking at rugby, Neil Barlow says. International rugby tournaments have always been the sport’s biggest draws. There is nothing quite like the Six Nations to bring out classic memes of rugby fans wearing bootcut jeans and loafers filling pubs. [...]
London Broncos raid Super League club ahead of hopeful top flight return June 6, 2026 London Broncos have raided the Super League for an experienced centre as the rugby league club looks to build for the top flight. The club – which was purchased last year by a consortium of Australians led by Brisbane Broncos legend Darren Lockyer – have signed Toby King from Warrington Wolves on a two-year deal, [...]
McCall or Rowe: A Prem Rugby titan will bow out this weekend June 5, 2026 City AM rugby columnist Ollie Phillips discusses the last weekend of Prem Rugby fixtures, and how a major giant of the game in Tony Rowe or Mark McCall will bow out come full time. Tony Rowe, Rob Baxter, Nigel Wray and Mark McCall: the four men who have, arguably, defined English club rugby over the [...]
Champ Rugby: Bedford vs Worcester shows strength of second tier May 29, 2026 This Sunday afternoon at Bedford Blues’ Goldington Road could be pandemonium. The home team take on Champ Rugby giants Worcester Warriors looking to be crowned winners of English rugby’s second tier. But what’s the point, when you cannot get promoted? Well it is the continued proof that the Champ is and can be competitive, where [...]
Challenge Cup: Wigan Warriors chief slams Network Rail over train chaos May 27, 2026 Rugby league chiefs have accused Network Rail of forgetting the North-based code as engineering works look set to cause chaos at this weekend’s Challenge Cup final at Wembley Stadium. After weeks of football finals at the national stadium, rugby league will now take over the 90,000-capacity arena with 60,000 fans expected in north London. But [...]
London Broncos aim for reach with teen festival May 27, 2026 The London Broncos rugby league team this week invited 150 junior players from the capital and surrounding area as the hopeful Super League side looks to expand its reach. The team, who play out of Wimbledon’s Cherry Red Records Stadium, are into their first season under new ownership after being purchased by an Australian consortium [...]
Bilbao, Amsterdam, Milan: Where should Champions Cup rugby go next? May 22, 2026 The best thing about the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup finals weekend is its location: Bilbao. It is not the first time the two premier continental fixtures have ventured to El Botxo – the San Mames Stadium hosted Leinster’s victory over Racing 92 in 2018 and Cardiff’s Challenge Cup win over Gloucester a [...]