Sponsors All Blacks could chase after falling out with Man United part-owners Ineos February 15, 2025 Last week it was revealed that rugby giants New Zealand, including the famous All Blacks, were suing sponsors and Manchester United part-owners Ineos. The chemicals firm, co-owned by British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, stands accused of breaching its sponsorship agreement by failing to pay an installment of a £27m, six-year deal, that was signed in [...]
Hundred: Who are winners and losers from £1bn cricket sale? February 14, 2025 When a collective £975m valuation was placed on the Hundred this month many were surprised a competition in its infancy could fetch such a number. But the franchise competition through, largely, eight 49 per cent stakes being sold by the England and Wales Cricket Board, has exceeded expectations – around £700m was seen as a [...]
Manchester Originals investors ‘happy’ despite missing out on London Spirit February 14, 2025 The owner of Indian Premier League side Lucknow Super Giants, RPSG Group, says it is “extremely happy” to have bought a stake in the Hundred franchise Manchester Originals despite initially bidding for Lord’s-based London Spirit. RPSG was gazumped in the auction of a 49 per cent stake in London Spirit by a consortium of Silicon [...]
Arsenal injury crisis is down to overworked players, says Arteta February 14, 2025 Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has sounded the alarm over player workload, saying his team’s injury crisis is “a consequence” of increasing demands on footballers. Arteta said he was training his squad “less than ever” in a bid to balance a schedule that can require European football’s top stars to play 60-70 games a season. His [...]
City of London great and good raise record £160k for School of Hard Knocks February 14, 2025 The City of London’s best, brightest, great and good descended on Threadneedle Street’s M Restaurant as a record £161,000 was raised at the annual School of Hard Knocks Long Lunch. Leading City stalwarts including Champions Cup sponsors Investec were joined by the likes of Firethorn Trust, Clarksons, Falko, England international Andy Gomarsall, LBC’s Nick Ferrari [...]
Why the NBA has reinvented All-Star Weekend in a bid to revive it February 14, 2025 The NBA has made drastic changes to its All-Star Weekend in an attempt to breathe new life into a spectacle that has lost half of its audience. Todd Boehly and his consortium of US investors didn’t waste any time in ripping up the rulebook after they took over at Chelsea in the summer of 2022. [...]
Women’s Premier League: Who owns the teams in IPL sibling? February 14, 2025 Amid the hype surrounding the Hundred franchises being sold off to, mostly, Indian or American-Indian investors; the Women’s Premier League (or Women’s IPL) starts today. Having seen its five franchises fetch a collective $572m and media firm Viacom 18 spending over $100m on a five-year broadcast deal, the Women’s IPL is heading into its third [...]
Welsh rugby is in the pits no matter who passes through Gatland’s Gate next February 14, 2025 Warren Gatland’s legacy is already secured; when Wales players arrive at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium they do so by driving through Gatland’s Gate. He may be remembered for 14 consecutive losses in his second stint as Wales boss – the last of which was a 22-15 humiliation by Italy in which the score completely flattered the [...]
RFU criticised for lack of consultation over bonus row engulfing Sweeney February 13, 2025 An independent review of the bonus controversy engulfing the Rugby Football Union and its chief executive Bill Sweeney has criticised a lack of consultation with the RFU Council. The review, conducted by law firm Freshfields, backed the RFU’s design and implementation of its long-term incentive plan (LTIP), which saw Sweeney receive a £358,000 bonus last [...]
Super League: What is the Captain’s Challenge and is it the future? February 13, 2025 The Super League returns tonight but there will be a new element to rugby league with the introduction of the Captain’s Challenge. Tennis has player calls and Cricket has a review system too, but what is the Captain’s Challenge and could we see the rugby league innovation found in rugby union and football in the [...]