Row erupts over bid to resurrect London Irish February 12, 2025 London Irish administrators and former frontrunner Daniel Loitz are at loggerheads over the breakdown of the German’s proposed deal to buy the stricken rugby club. Sources close to the deal claim that Loitz had months – including an exclusivity period – in which to finalise a purchase with the ReSolve Group, which was appointed when [...]
Premier League clubs may vote on new financial rules despite PFA threat February 12, 2025 Premier League clubs will have the option to vote through new financial rules on Thursday despite the threat of legal action from the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) if they do so. The 20 top-flight teams will gather for a meeting in central London to discuss, and potentially vote on, a new system to replace the [...]
Dry in the desert: Alcohol to be banned at 2034 Fifa World Cup in Saudi Arabia February 12, 2025 Alcohol will not be allowed at the 2034 Fifa World Cup in Saudi Arabia, the kingdom’s ambassador said on Wednesday. Prince Khalid bin Bandar Al Saud said that “there’s no alcohol at all” in the country, adding that there would not be an exemption for the World Cup, which Saudi Arabia won last year. The [...]
Dear England: Gareth Southgate to write book on leadership February 12, 2025 Former England manager Gareth Southgate will publish a book, Dear England: Lessons on Leadership, later this year. It will draw on “the defining moments that shaped his leadership style, principles that defined his decisions, and the resilience that enabled him to perform under the most intense public scrutiny,” said publishers Century, part of Penguin Random [...]
Formula 1 race in Rwanda would be ‘blood-stained’, says DRC February 12, 2025 Formula 1 risks having its brand “smeared by a blood-stained association with Rwanda” if it presses ahead with talks to stage a grand prix in Kigali, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has warned. DRC minister of foreign affairs Therese Kayikwamba Wagner wrote to F1 president and CEO Stefano Domenicali this week to urge him [...]
Allwyn wins lotto with McLaren deal after F1 partnership February 12, 2025 Lottery operator Allwyn have built upon their Formula 1 partnership this week by striking a deal with constructors’ champions McLaren. The firm, which holds the UK licence for the National Lottery, will add McLaren to their roster of partners having agreed to get on board with Formula 1 ahead of the 2025 season. “We are [...]
Eddie Jones: I want to become an IPL coach February 12, 2025 Former England rugby coach Eddie Jones has revealed he wants to move into cricket’s Indian Premier League, insisting he could “100 per cent” win the IPL. Jones is England’s most successful coach by win percentage, took the team to the 2019 World Cup final in Japan before being sacked and replaced by incumbent Steve Borthwick, [...]
Ahead of the Game: Six Nations TV rights tender hit by delay February 12, 2025 The Six Nations TV tender has been put on hold due to delays in finalising the format of the new global Nations Championship, which will launch next year. The 12-team tournament will definitely take place, with each nation playing three games in each hemisphere followed by play-offs in London, but the Six Nations and Sanzaar [...]
Kolkata Knight Riders lose Trent Rockets Hundred team to Chelsea owner February 11, 2025 The face of Chelsea’s US ownership group, Todd Boehly, has won the auction to purchase 49 per cent of the Trent Rockets Hundred franchise. The deal, which would value the Nottingham-based team at £79m, is the penultimate Hundred franchise to be sold, with Southern Brave expected to be auctioned to Hampshire owner the GMR Group [...]
Ratcliffe and Ineos bite back after being sued by New Zealand Rugby February 11, 2025 Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos has blamed the “deindustrialisation of Europe” after the Manchester United co-owner was sued by New Zealand Rugby over its latest cost-cutting measure. New Zealand Rugby (NZR) went public with the dispute on Monday, claiming that Ineos had breached its sponsorship agreement by failing to pay an instalment of the £27m, six-year [...]