By: Matt Hardy

Deputy Sports Editor - City AM Matt Hardy is the City AM Deputy Sports Editor with a specialism in the business of sport. He covers the likes of rugby, cricket, sporting investment and venture capital funds; while also being across golf, cricket, and the politics of sport.

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Saudi Arabia aiming for £17bn sports sector valuation by 2030

April 8, 2025

The world’s newest major sports player Saudi Arabia aims to have a sports sector worth $21bn (£16.5bn) by 2030. It comes as the Gulf state confirmed the sector was currently worth $8.5bn (£6.7bn) in 2025 having been worth just $1.3bn (£1bn) in 2016. The entirety of the UK’s sports sector contributes around £100bn to the [...]
Man United to play in Malaysia three days after Aston Villa tie

April 8, 2025

Manchester United will play a match in Malaysia just three days after the conclusion of the Premier League season. The 20-time English champions face Aston Villa on 25 May on the last day of the season before taking on the ASEAN All Stars at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium on 28 May. Two days later [...]
URC side Cardiff Rugby to enter administration in blow for Wales

April 8, 2025

Two-time European Challenge Cup winners Cardiff Rugby are set for an emergency takeover by Welsh rugby’s governing body the WRU. Players and staff at the United Rugby Championship club were informed on Tuesday by chief executive Richard Holland that the club were poised to go into administration. The decision by Helford Capital Limited, whose investment [...]
Premiership clubs cannot get bored of Champions Cup failures, it’s the pinnacle

April 8, 2025

Looking across the results from the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup at the weekend with a focus on the seven English teams, there were six results that went the way many expected and one that didn’t. Gloucester’s victory in France against Montpellier was a real surprise, but wins for Northampton Saints and Bath, [...]
Exclusive: India players from IPL close to Hundred cricket inclusion

April 7, 2025

Senior figures in English cricket are confident that India will release current men’s internationals to play in the Hundred as soon as next year. India’s governing body the BCCI has not permitted their male stars to play in overseas T20 competitions, maintaining their exclusivity to the Indian Premier League. But with four of the eight [...]
NFL: GB and Ireland could stage more matches outside of London

April 6, 2025

The chief of NFL in the UK and Ireland has said the region could have more games outside of London in the future. Dublin’s Croke Park will host its first NFL match in the 2025 season, in addition to the three games which take place annually in London. Henry Hodgson, NFL UK general manager, admitted [...]
Grand National Prize money: How much does Aintree winner get?

April 5, 2025

This evening sees the return of the iconic Grand National horse race at Aintree on Merseyside. A field of 34 horses and jockeys will take to the racecourse, with 30 fences – including the Chair and Water Jump – between the start line and racing glory. I Am Maximus (Paul Townend, Willie Mullins, J.P. McManus) [...]
Lord’s MCC asks fans for new names for Hundred team London Spirit

April 4, 2025

London Spirit have asked fans for new name suggestions for the Hundred franchise ahead of the 2025 cricket competition. The Marylebone Cricket Club is in the process of surveying fans ahead of this year’s competition. They have asked a select fan group to decide whether the London Spirit electric blue or MCC egg and bacon [...]
How club revenue turns Champions Cup into cash of the titans

April 4, 2025

This weekend’s Investec Champions Cup round of 16 may be about getting the win in one of Europe’s most iconic stadiums, but in reality competitions such as this – seen by many as the top club rugby competition in the world – can have a monumental impact on rugby finances. The classic cliches in rugby [...]
England Rugby captain Itoje sees £1m jump in wealth

April 3, 2025

England Rugby captain Maro Itoje has seen his wealth jump by nearly £1m, according to his company’s latest accounts. Oghene Limited, whose sole director is England captain Itoje, saw total assets rise from £2.6m to £3.4m in the year to 30 June 2024. The Saracens forward is one of the highest paid players at his [...]

UK growth spurt ‘too good to be true’

Rory McIlroy, Gout Gout and the search for sport’s elusive heroes

Cognac: The storied history of France’s luxury spirit

By: Matt Hardy

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