Toulouse minority owner: Prem Rugby franchising ‘very exciting’ March 11, 2026 A ringfenced Prem Rugby should be seen as an exciting prospect that could one day chase down the powerhouse Top 14 league, according to a co-owner of six-time Investec Champions Cup winners Toulouse. The RFU Council voted through measures last month that ended automatic promotion and relegation from Prem Rugby to the second-tier Champ. It [...]
Birmingham City: How Wagner and West Mids Mayor unlocked stadium plan March 11, 2026 Last year, at the end of January, the Mayor of the West Midlands Richard Parker picked up the phone to Birmingham City owner Tom Wagner to hear a football club shareholder frustrated with the public interest surrounding the construction of a new arena for Manchester United rather than his stadium project in Britain’s second city. [...]
Itoje and Pollock can boost Britain’s soft power on global stage, MP says March 10, 2026 England captain Maro Itoje and teammate Henry Pollock have been backed to become ambassadors for the country. Steve Borthwick’s England side may be on a dire run of three consecutive defeats but Liberal Democrat MP Edward Morello insists the pair, alongside Women’s Rugby World Cup winning Red Roses, can help to project Britain’s soft power [...]
£9bn World Cup too big to be derailed by Middle East conflict, says Fifa chief March 10, 2026 Fifa has ruled out the prospect of the escalating conflict in the Middle East posing a threat to this summer’s World Cup and is still hopeful that Iran will take up their place. The US and Israel’s attacks and Iran’s retaliatory strikes have caused huge upheaval in the region just three months out from the [...]
Tottenham Hotspur Women MD: ‘We want to be challenging for the WSL’ March 10, 2026 You could be forgiven for thinking that it’s all doom and gloom at Tottenham Hotspur, but there is a good news story unfolding in N17. While the men’s team toil to stay in the Premier League as their mortal enemies from down the road close in on the title, Spurs Women are on a gloriously [...]
Football investors Mercury13 take majority stake in top flight Spanish club March 10, 2026 Women’s football multi-club group Mercury13 has expanded its ownership roster with the majority acquisition of Spanish Liga F side FC Badalona Women. The move brings the top-flight club into a portfolio which includes WSL 2 team Bristol City Women and Italian outfit FC Como Women. Lauren Holiday, chairwoman of Mercury13 and incoming board member of [...]
Abramovich to fight UK Government over funds from £2.5bn Chelsea sale March 9, 2026 Former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has vowed to fight the UK Government if it follows through with a threat to seize the proceeds from his £2.5bn sale of the club. Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned Abramovich late last year that “the clock is ticking” on his pledge to donate the funds to victims of the [...]
Iraq make Fifa demand as Iran conflict jeopardises World Cup play-off March 9, 2026 Iraq head coach Graham Arnold has confirmed that they have asked Fifa to postpone their World Cup play-off this month amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East. Arnold could be deprived of all domestic-based players as Iraqi airspace has been closed since the US and Israel’s attacks on Iran commenced at the end of [...]
Manuel Neuer: Bayern goalkeeper to teach European sport’s next leaders March 9, 2026 Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is swapping the penalty box for the lecture theatre in a bid to halt the Americanisation of European sport. The man credited with inventing the sweeper-keeper role has co-founded the Center for Sports Business Tegernsee, whose stated aim is to strengthen governance and finances in Europe. Neuer’s role will involve [...]
Formula 1 plans peace talks with raging drivers after Verstappen Mario Kart jibe March 9, 2026 Formula 1 chiefs plan talks with drivers aimed at quelling a rebellion over its new engine rules after four-time world champion Max Verstappen likened the racing to video game Mario Kart. Verstappen was among the most vociferous after finishing sixth in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on Sunday, but current title-holder Lando Norris also issued [...]