Back in black: Saracens ready to resume fight for Premiership supremacy September 17, 2021 Little more than a year ago Saracens left the Premiership with their tails between their legs, effectively kicked out for breaching salary cap rules. Since then they have undertaken a partial rebuild based on strength in depth, shrewd recruitment and a need to prove the doubters wrong. Now Saracens are back in the big time [...]
Survey shows that most football fans want World Cup every two years, says Fifa September 16, 2021 Fifa has stepped up its push for biennial World Cups by reporting that most football fans support the controversial proposals. The world governing body cited a survey of 23,000 people in 23 countries undertaken in July as part of a wider feasibility study. Fifa did not reveal any further figures but said it had drawn [...]
Anti-doping chiefs WADA consider taking cannabis off prohibited list following Sha’Carri Richardson ban September 15, 2021 The World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) is to a review cannabis as a prohibited substance after criticism surrounding Sha’Carri Richardson’s Olympic ban. WADA says the scientific review will be used to determine whether cannabis should remain a banned substance. The discussion around cannabis gained momentum after US sprinter Richardson was forced to miss this year’s [...]
Harlequins revive Big Game with December double header at Twickenham September 15, 2021 Harlequins’ annual Big Game is returning to Twickenham after a one year hiatus for a double header featuring the men’s and women’s teams. Quins men will play Northampton Saints on Bank Holiday Monday 27 December following a clash between Harlequins Women and Wasps Women. Dubbed the world’s biggest annual club rugby event, this will be [...]
Scottish Premiership clubs Hibs, Hearts, Aberdeen, Dundee and Dundee United task Deloitte with finding ways to increase league revenues September 15, 2021 Scottish Premiership football clubs have commissioned Deloitte to conduct a review of the league with a view to unlocking new revenue. Aberdeen, Dundee, Dundee United, Heart of Midlothian and Hibernian say they would like to see annual distributions increase from £27m to at least £50m a year by 2026. The five clubs say they will [...]
Emma Raducanu’s success shouldn’t be measured in dollars but in her cultural impact way beyond tennis September 14, 2021 There are two stories written when any sports star bursts on the scene in the way that Emma Raducanu has this summer. The first is about how much money they’ll earn and the second surrounds the number of people who will immediately take up the sport because of it. Both narratives are overly simplistic for different reasons. Distilling Raducanu’s sporting achievement to monetary gain – and let’s face, it [...]
Investment bank Jefferies becomes new sponsor of Varsity Matches September 14, 2021 Investment banking firm Jefferies has been announced as the title sponsor of the Varsity Matches, as the Oxford v Cambridge rivalry marks 150 years. In addition to the new sponsor, the varsity games will now take place on the Saturday after the conclusion of the Six Nations in a bid to attract a new audience. [...]
London Irish target millennial rugby fans with Netflix-style monthly ticket subscription for home games September 14, 2021 Premiership Rugby club London Irish have launched a monthly ticket subscription service in an attempt to woo millennials ahead of the new season. Prices start from £30 per month for adults and £9 for children and include entry to all league and cup games at the Exiles’ new stadium, as well as all perks afforded [...]
Opinion: England cricket chiefs should fight to reschedule fifth Test with India and reject alternative offer of two Twenty20 internationals September 13, 2021 England and India should today have been concluding the fourth day of the fifth Test in a series which reminded everybody that there is space for five-day cricket among the razzle-dazzle of The Hundred. Instead, the Test was called off. Covid concerns from India, similar to those expressed by England in South Africa last year, [...]
Emma Raducanu Instagram and Twitter following rockets by more than 1m during run to US Open title September 13, 2021 Emma Raducanu is reaping the rewards of her US Open success with more than 1m new social media followers. The teenage British tennis player, who won her first Grand Slam in New York on Saturday, began the tournament with around 400,000 Instagram followers. By Monday, that number had soared to more than 1.6m. Raducanu has [...]