Blame for rebel R360 league plans at rugby union’s door September 9, 2025 Rugby union’s unwillingness to develop and progress has fuelled rebel rugby leagues like R360, a new report has concluded. The lack of a cohesive plan to attract new audiences, and minimal cooperation to get the game on free-to-air television more often, has allowed for new, alternative ideas to flood the discussion vacuum. R360 – which [...]
Newcastle unveil new logo after major Red Bull investment September 9, 2025 Newcastle have unveiled their new branding having been purchased by energy drinks giant Red Bull in the summer. The Prem Rugby club faced severe financial woes last season but could now, theoretically, be one of the wealthiest clubs in the game after being given “wiiings” by their new owners. Red Bull’s sporting portfolio contains a [...]
French Top 14 balances financial ambition with sensible watchdog September 5, 2025 The return of Prem Rugby may be another few weeks away but action in one of Europe’s big three leagues begins this weekend. The French Top 14 is back on our screens and is an example of just how brilliant domestic rugby can be. It leverages the love of rugby among its watching public with [...]
Paqueta phone celebration raises eyebrows at FA as judgement looms September 3, 2025 The Football Association is expected to publish the independent commission’s full judgement in the acquittal of Lucas Paqueta on spot-fixing charges imminently, days after spotting a possible double meaning in his goal celebration during West Ham’s win at Nottingham Forest on Sunday. After converting a penalty, the Brazilian mimed receiving a phone call and then [...]
British and Irish Lions tour clears £30m Rugby Australia debt September 2, 2025 Revenue generated by the British and Irish Lions rugby tour to Australia has helped the hosts to be debt-free for the first time since 2021. The nine-match, three-Test tour Down Under allowed Rugby Australia to pay off the £30m it owed Pacific Equity Partners having taken out a £39m loan in 2023. It is the [...]
Nyetimber muscle out Bollinger to partner with England Rugby September 1, 2025 Sparkling wine producer Nyetimber has muscled out French firm Bollinger to become an official partner of England Rugby ahead of the autumn internationals. The deal ends a 24 year relationship between the well-known champagne house and England, and is a coup for the West Sussex-, Kent- and Hampshire-based firm with the national rugby team sponsored [...]
Free-to-air TV should be crucial pillar for rugby union August 29, 2025 Whether it be the Women’s Rugby World Cup pulling in millions of viewers on the BBC or the Six Nations being a staple of Saturday afternoon TV guide planning, free-to-air is crucial for a sport like rugby union. It is a sport that needs eye balls and a sport that thrives off being given prime [...]
Are franchise IPOs the end game for The Hundred’s £1bn investors? August 28, 2025 Have The Hundred’s investors figured out yet how they will make a return? Look out for minority stake sales and maybe even listings in India, says Ed Warner. Never make an investment without having a plan on how to sell it. Illiquidity can scupper the most enticing of propositions. The very best portfolio managers, especially [...]
Women’s Rugby World Cup opener peaks at 2.4m viewers August 26, 2025 England’s opening Women’s Rugby World Cup match against the USA peaked at nearly 2.5m as records tumbled during the competition’s opening weekend. The 69-7 victory over the States was watched by an average 1.5m viewers on BBC 1 while the 42,723 in attendance at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light surpassed the crowd for the previous final, [...]
Women’s Rugby World Cup: Red Roses key to wider success August 22, 2025 Whatever happens at the Women’s Rugby World Cup over the next few weeks all eyes are going to be on that Allianz Stadium final in Twickenham, where 82,000 fans are set to break a world record for a women’s rugby match attendance. I think in the aftermath of the 2022 Euros, where the Lionesses sent [...]