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 [...]
McCall or Rowe: A Prem Rugby titan will bow out this weekend Sport Business 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 [...]
Prem Rugby chiefs admit its ‘challenging’ to compete with Top 14 May 8, 2026 Prem Rugby chiefs have admitted competing with the French Top 14 has been “challenging” given English salary cap rules. Clubs across England can spend around £8m per season on their squad, with £6.4m of that the standard cap and the remaining a series of credits and allowances. The French Top 14 will see its salary [...]
In defence of Bristol Bears CEO Tom Tainton’s rugby marketing comments May 8, 2026 “At Bristol Bears, we don’t call ourselves a rugby club. We are a marketing agency that plays rugby. Yes, our players have to be competent and able to deliver on the field, but if they are not bringing any value off the field, that genuinely factors into our recruitment conversations.” Those were the words of [...]
Cornish Pirates announce US investment into Champ Rugby team May 7, 2026 US investors have taken a stake in Champ Rugby club Cornish Pirates as English ovalball continues to be seen as an attractive asset class. The Cornish Pirates, who play their home games at Mennaye Field in Penzance, have become the first known English rugby union club to onboard major American investors. J. Kenneth Moritz and [...]
Gloucester Rugby secure £300k fan investment at £36.5m valuation May 4, 2026 Gloucester Rugby have raised £300k from a fan investment cycle at a valuation of £36.5m as investment in the Prem continues. With 23 days left on their public raise, the Prem Rugby strugglers have achieved a fresh goal of having £300,000 in commitments. The 122 investors have pledged an average of over £2,500 apiece but [...]
Exclusive: London Irish still exploring Prem and URC rugby entries April 29, 2026 London Irish are continuing to explore a return to professional rugby with routes into both Prem Rugby and the URC being assessed, City AM understands. The club filed for administration in 2023 before being purchased last year by the late Formula 1 team owner Eddie Jordan and the ownership is now looking for a way [...]
Four Champ Rugby clubs in talks with new investors April 27, 2026 Nearly a third of Champ Rugby clubs are having conversations with potential new investors, as the wider game looks to capitalise on the incoming franchising of Prem Rugby. Although details are still to be finalised, the English top flight is set to steamroll into an expansionist league much like those seen in North America. Red [...]