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 [...]
Ahead of the Game: Man United cuts could be copied by other clubs December 30, 2024 Manchester United’s controversial move to slash the funding it provides to its charitable foundation as part of cost-cutting measures introduced by Sir Jim Ratcliffe could be followed by other Premier League clubs. The Manchester United Foundation are set to be the latest victims of Ratcliffe’s drive to cut costs at Old Trafford, with Sky News [...]
Why RFU boss Sweeney is set for no confidence vote December 18, 2024 Rugby Football Union chief executive Bill Sweeney will face a vote of no confidence after over 180 clubs and bodies rebelled against the governing body’s biggest name. Sweeney, alongside chairman Tom Ilube, will face the music in February following a grassroots-led revolt against the body led by the referees’ union and the Championship clubs at [...]
RFU boss Bill Sweeney paid £1.1m despite heavy losses November 25, 2024 England Rugby chief executive Bill Sweeney was paid £1.1m in the last financial year despite the game struggling to stay on its feet. It comes as the governing body for rugby in England announced record losses nearing £40m and confirmed there would be redundancies within the organisation. The Rugby Football Union insists that their year, [...]
Wasps step closer to new Kent home and Championship spot November 13, 2024 Two-time European champions Wasps moved a step closer to reviving their defunct rugby club after they secured land in Kent for a new stadium. The site in Swanley has been acquired on a 10-year-option and could be used to build a new stadium in the south east of the country after the club were one [...]
Exclusive: Argentina and South Africa in talks to host Rugby Championship match in London November 12, 2024 World champions South Africa and World Cup semi-finalists Argentina are in talks to play a Rugby Championship fixture at London’s Allianz Stadium in 2025, City AM can reveal. Discussions have taken place about Twickenham hosting a match from the southern hemisphere’s equivalent of the Six Nations next autumn. It would be the first time that [...]
Appalling, laughable, not fair: Chinnor and Cambridge go it alone after Premiership Rugby Cup exclusion October 29, 2024 Championship sides Chinnor and Cambridge will compete in the Not The Premiership Rugby Cup after being excluded from the original competition. On Friday night at Mennaye Field in Penzance, Cornish Pirates will fancy themselves against a winless Exeter Chiefs in the opening fixture of the Premiership Rugby Cup. The competition has been one of the [...]
Rugby needs to look to USA and other wild ideas September 13, 2024 When I read this week in City A.M. that Premiership rugby clubs are keen to head to the United States again I was pleased, if not too surprised. It didn’t really take off in 2016 and 2017, when clubs from the Gallagher Premiership last went across the pond, but that’s not to say rugby cannot [...]
RFU and Premiership Rugby sign landmark deal to shape future of game September 4, 2024 Rugby Football Union chief executive Bill Sweeney hailed a “significant milestone” in the English game on Wednesday as the national governing body, Premiership Rugby and the Rugby Players Association yesterday agreed a new eight-year Professional Game Partnership. The swathes of changes to the English game will see the national coach Steve Borthwick given dominion over [...]
Twickenham rugby ground becomes Allianz Stadium after deal struck with firm August 5, 2024 The home of English rugby Twickenham will now be known as Allianz Stadium after the Rugby Football Union and the insurance and asset management giant finalised a new partnership. Under the new deal there would be further investment into English rugby, alongside the stadium naming rights being sold. Twickenham Stadium has used its namesake for [...]