Ronaldo to make action movies with X-Men and Kick-Ass director April 10, 2025 Cristiano Ronaldo has made two action movies with Kingsman and X-Men filmmaker Matthew Vaughn. The venture has seen the duo set up a film studio named UR•MARV, with a release date for their first project expected in due course. Ronaldo, 40, said: “This is an exciting chapter for me, as I look ahead to new [...]
Northampton Saints chief: Champions Cup run is financial tonic April 10, 2025 Northampton Saints may be the sole English representative remaining in the Investec Champions Cup but they’re out only to look out for themselves. A run in the world’s premier club rugby competition is a money spinner, up until a certain point, and can open doors to countless commercial and fan activation opportunities. For Julia Chapman, [...]
Wimbledon tennis debentures rocket 60 per cent to £73,000 April 9, 2025 The cost of a debenture to watch the world’s best tennis players at the Wimbledon Championships has rocketed by nearly 60 per cent. The All England Lawn Tennis Ground plc, which owns the courts and grounds which host Wimbledon every year, this week launched applications for No1 Court debentures for the second show court for [...]
NRL could buy stake in English Super League April 9, 2025 The Australian National Rugby League (NRL) could buy a minority stake in England’s Super League in a move that would unify the sport’s two biggest club competitions. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, a secret meeting was held between NRL bosses and owners of Super League clubs Wigan Warriors and Warrington Wolves while both leagues [...]
Reading in takeover talks with mystery bidder after Platek walks away April 9, 2025 Financially stricken Reading are in takeover talks with a new prospective buyer after American businessman Robert Platek walked away from a deal for the League One club. Platek, co-head of global credit at BDT and MSD Partners, entered into a period of exclusive negotiations with current owner Dai Yongge but that has now elapsed. The [...]
Volleyball World: How CVC Capital Partners woke sport’s sleeping giant April 9, 2025 Volleyball World CEO Finn Taylor on how CVC Capital Partners has commercialised the sport, its successful D2C platform and ambitions to woo British fans. Private equity in sport can provoke suspicion that it will be funds rather than fans who benefit most from the transaction, yet in volleyball there can be little doubt that it [...]
West Ham’s Paqueta yet to give evidence in spot-fixing trial April 9, 2025 This week’s Ahead of the Game focuses on Lucas Paqueta, the English Football League in New York, rugby league controversy, basketball fines and the Grand National. Lucas Paqueta has yet to give evidence in his spot-fixing trial, a revelation which indicates that the case could have some way to run as the West Ham midfielder [...]
Saudi Arabia aiming for £17bn sports sector valuation by 2030 April 8, 2025 The world’s newest major sports player Saudi Arabia aims to have a sports sector worth $21bn (£16.5bn) by 2030. It comes as the Gulf state confirmed the sector was currently worth $8.5bn (£6.7bn) in 2025 having been worth just $1.3bn (£1bn) in 2016. The entirety of the UK’s sports sector contributes around £100bn to the [...]
Man United to play in Malaysia three days after Aston Villa tie April 8, 2025 Manchester United will play a match in Malaysia just three days after the conclusion of the Premier League season. The 20-time English champions face Aston Villa on 25 May on the last day of the season before taking on the ASEAN All Stars at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium on 28 May. Two days later [...]
URC side Cardiff Rugby to enter administration in blow for Wales April 8, 2025 Two-time European Challenge Cup winners Cardiff Rugby are set for an emergency takeover by Welsh rugby’s governing body the WRU. Players and staff at the United Rugby Championship club were informed on Tuesday by chief executive Richard Holland that the club were poised to go into administration. The decision by Helford Capital Limited, whose investment [...]