Premiership play-offs: Bath and Leicester to set up old school final June 6, 2025 The final day of the Premiership was a brilliant advert for English top-flight rugby, but this weekend’s play-offs will turn that up another notch. On Friday night runaway league leaders Bath take on local rivals Bristol Bears while, on Saturday, Leicester face Sale Sharks in the East Midlands. The Premiership semi-finals are always a series [...]
Investec Champions Cup lands Emirates deal June 4, 2025 Investec Champions Cup governing body EPCR have landed Emirates Airlines as their newest principal sponsor. The deal will see the airline become a European Professional Club Rugby premium partner and official airline partner for both of the European club competitions organised by the body. It comes amid rumours that chief commercial officer Francois Vergnol is [...]
Brighton owner Bloom looks to add French Ligue 1 club to portfolio May 28, 2025 In this week’s Ahead of the Game: Brighton owner Tony Bloom, football films, The Hundred sale, rugby rights and the National League. Brighton owner Tony Bloom is exploring a potential investment in a French club after completing his purchase of a 29 per cent stake in Scottish Premier League side Heart of Midlothian this week. [...]
France real winners out of Bordeaux Champions Cup success May 26, 2025 Sometimes it takes a Bordeaux to come along and remind you why the Investec Champions Cup is the most prestigious competition in club rugby. A couple of years ago you wouldn’t have even put Bordeaux in the mix to reach the knockout stages of the competition, then they started to build a ruthless machine that [...]
Investec Champions Cup: Cardiff, Chippy Lane and rugby’s selling point May 26, 2025 Walking down Cardiff’s iconic “Chippy Lane” in the shadow of the Principality Stadium on Saturday night after the Investec Champions Cup final was a reminder of the very best of club rugby. Bordeaux fans celebrating their 28-20 victory alongside Northampton Saints fans drinking away their sorrows – before the mad dash back across the border [...]
Investec Champions Cup: Ref Amashukeli embodies rugby and business May 23, 2025 Champions Cup sponsor Investec’s Tim Burnell discusses how referee Nika Amashukeli’s rise is a lesson in business and rugby. As the Investec Champions Cup final approaches, anticipation is building, not only for the rugby itself, but for what it represents: ongoing commitment, seeking excellence and working together to achieve a goal. A powerful example of [...]
Does ProD2 on YouTube offer example to other leagues wanting exposure? May 23, 2025 Few sports fans would have heard of the ProD2, but for rugby nuts it is seen as the best second tier competition across the sport’s global offering. Last night saw Provence and Soyaux Angouleme face off in the post-season playoffs. And for the first time Brits were able to tune in. But you’d struggle to [...]
Champions Cup exclusive: YouTube to show Northampton vs Bordeaux final May 20, 2025 Northampton Saints’ attempt to win the European Champions Cup for the first time in 25 years against Bordeaux on Saturday is set to be made available free-to-air throughout the UK on YouTube and Welsh broadcaster S4C. City AM has learned that negotiations between UK rights holders Premier Sports and tournament organisers EPCR are at an [...]
Six Nations to stage first Thursday match since 1948 May 19, 2025 The Six Nations will have a match on Thursday for the first time since 1948 after fixtures for the 2026 competition were confirmed on Monday. Ireland will travel to take on France on Thursday 5 February in the opening match of the 2026 competition as France aim for back-to-back titles. The shift to a Thursday [...]
Do British and Irish Lions rugby stars risk double tax on £100,000 fee? May 17, 2025 With the stars of the British and Irish Lions touring rugby team getting a wage, how do they avoid being taxed twice? In today’s global sporting landscape, with athletes and teams constantly moving across borders, the tax implications of international competition are both significant and complex. Whether it’s the British and Irish Lions touring Australia [...]