Exclusive: Wembley sales key to rugby league Ashes record crowd hopes July 14, 2025 Organisers of rugby league’s Ashes series are targeting a record-breaking opening Test at Wembley Stadium, 103 days out from kick-off. Rugby League Commercial, which is behind the first Test series against Australia in 20 years, is aiming to break records for Ashes attendances. Previous series were played between Australia and Great Britain, rather than England, [...]
Lack of Welsh Lions shows stark reality of systemic failures July 11, 2025 Ahead of Wednesday’s British and Irish Lions midweek game against the Brumbies in the Australian capital of Canberra I came across a shocking statistic. The match was the first since 1899 not to include a Welshman from the matchday 23. I am not surprised that it has happened on this tour given only two Welshmen [...]
Super League CEO: Challenge Cup final may need move from Wembley July 9, 2025 Rugby league may have to consider moving the Challenge Cup away from Wembley, says the chief executive of Warrington Wolves. Karl Fitzpatrick said his “heart” was with staying at the 90,000-seat home of football in London but his “head is saying we may need to look at somewhere else”. The 2024 final between Wigan Warriors [...]
British and Irish Lions: Aussie pubs certain there’s enough Guinness July 7, 2025 British and Irish Lions rugby fans can fly to Australia assured that the “Guinness will be flowing” after pub chiefs Down Under quelled fears that bars could run dry this month. Australian reports raised concerns surrounding a potential lack of beer stockpiles ahead of the Lions’ three-Test series against the Wallabies, which begins on 19 [...]
British and Irish Lions should tour France and Argentina July 4, 2025 While watching the British and Irish Lions take on the Queensland Reds on Wednesday, I started thinking about what other sides across the world would make good opponents for the touring team. The Lions of late have always ventured to the same three nations – South Africa, Australia and New Zealand – and they will [...]
Women’s sport needs to convert online fandom into ticket sales July 3, 2025 With England’s Euros defence getting underway on Saturday, how does women’s sport convert online fandom into ticket sales? Attendances down, TV viewing figures falling, but TikTok and Instagram metrics up. This is the current state of engagement with women’s professional sport in the United Kingdom. Phone surfing can be monetised, but there is an urgent [...]
Grenfell United welcomes Ulster decision to end Kingspan deal July 2, 2025 Grenfell survivors have welcomed Ulster Rugby’s decision to discontinue its stadium naming rights deal with Kingspan, an insulation maker criticised over the London tower block tragedy. Ulster announced this week it had begun the process of removing Kingspan branding from its home ground in Belfast after a long-term sponsorship deal with the local firm, which [...]
England rugby co-captain Jamie George’s side hustle doubles in value June 30, 2025 A side hustle co-founded by England rugby co-captain Jamie George doubled in value during its latest financial year, it has been revealed. The Carter & George Practice was set up by the Saracens and British and Irish Lions player in 2018 alongside friend Rhys Carter. The business runs physiotherapy, wellbeing and rehabilitation clinics in Amersham, [...]
Where to watch the British and Irish Lions tour in London June 28, 2025 The British and Irish Lions tour continues this month as the touring side looks for a first series win since 2013. But where in London can fans watch the action? For those who cannot spend thousands travelling to Australia there are a number of spots in London putting on special breakfast offerings for the duration [...]
British and Irish Lions player row doesn’t short-change fans June 27, 2025 Seeing the war of words erupt between the British and Irish Lions and Rugby Australia this week has given me a bit of a buzz for the tour. This is what the quadrennial series is all about, the niggle of pre-Test series angst. But when push comes to shove it is all bravado and showmanship, [...]