Investec Champions Cup needs South Africa success January 16, 2025 It looks as though European Rugby has nailed its colours to the mast in supporting the inclusion of South African franchises in the Investec Champions Cup. For the competition it offers a new rugby-mad market to venture into, for clubs it aligns European Professional Club Rugby with the United Rugby Championship, and for title sponsors [...]
Brady’s Football Regulator views are desperate protests, say governance firm January 16, 2025 Governance experts have hit out at Baroness Karren Brady over her stance on the Football Governance Bill, claiming she’s making “desperate protests” in the House of Lords on behalf of the Premier League. The West Ham United chair slammed accusations that the Premier League was effectively dragging its feet over topics relating to the Football [...]
LIV Golf is here to stay, says new CEO Scott O’Neil January 16, 2025 LIV Golf’s new CEO Scott O’Neil insists it will be a “full and participating member” of the professional game’s new landscape when a planned merger with the PGA Tour and DP World Tour is finally completed. Experienced sport and entertainment executive O’Neil’s appointment as the successor to Greg Norman appears to underline LIV Golf’s ambition [...]
Tennis star Taylor Fritz donates Australian Open prize money to LA fire relief January 16, 2025 California-born tennis star Taylor Fritz has pledged to donate some of his Australian Open prize money to help victims of the fires that have swept through LA. The American men’s No1 is giving his first-round winnings of A$132,000 (£67,000) to relief efforts as the wildfires continue to wreak devastation on the city. “I just want [...]
Howden: Insurance giant expands sport portfolio with SailGP sponsorship January 16, 2025 Insurance giant Howden this morning expanded their sports sponsorship portfolio, announcing a three-year partnership with SailGP team Emirates GBR. The group, headquartered at One Creechurch Place, will see Sir Ben Ainslie’s sailing team join their roster of sporting sponsorships, which include the British and Irish Lions, Ascot Racecourse, Victoria Racing Club in Australia and the [...]
Forget the gloom, sport’s broad palette offers many reasons be cheerful January 16, 2025 Elite sport may make us despair at times but we shouldn’t forget that the wider ecosystem offers so many opportunities to connect and participate, says Ed Warner. Memo to self: don’t always be a miserabilist. The data says that the most upbeat editions of this column garner as many readers as the more downbeat. So, [...]
Baroness Brady rebukes ‘wrong’ Football Governance Bill accusations in Lords January 15, 2025 Baroness Brady launched a sensational rebuke in the Football Governance Bill discussion in the House of Lords last night, defending the Premier League against accusations of effectively dragging its feet. West Ham United chair and Apprentice sidekick Baroness Brady tabled six of the 150-plus amendments that were placed on the record after the government introduced [...]
James Vince: Hampshire captain steps down and moves to Dubai January 15, 2025 World Cup winning England batter James Vince has quit his red-ball deal with Hampshire and relocated to Dubai in a move that allows him to play in the Pakistan Super League. Vince, 33, has stepped down after 10 years as club captain and renegotiated his contract to a white-ball-only agreement that will mean he still [...]
RFU hits back at MPs, saying it got no COVID-19 loans from Government January 15, 2025 The Rugby Football Union (RFU) has hit back at MPs after a swathe of parliamentarians demanded government intervention over the “dying” game. English rugby’s governing body has faced widespread criticism over bumper bonuses for chief executive Bill Sweeney while the wider game struggles to find a financial footing. Shadow sports minister Louie French said that [...]
Cates to keep Sky Sports role despite getting Match of the Day job January 15, 2025 Kelly Cates is set to keep her role with Sky Sports despite being named as one of three new presenters for Match of the Day, the flagship football show of rival broadcaster the BBC. Cates, who currently anchors Sky Sports’ biggest live Premier League games alongside presenting for BBC Radio 5 Live, will join Mark [...]