China, Australia and the Pacific: How rugby is shaping soft power arms race Sport Business Rugby union and league are growing in the Indo-Pacific, as is the investment from central governments of dominant regional powers. Matt Hardy asks why. Amid the disruption at airports in Saudi Arabia, the limited access through the Strait of Hormuz and the nagging feeling that the world is on the verge of doom, soft power [...]
Exclusive: Prem Rugby CEO set for US trip to woo banks and private equity Sport Business Prem Rugby chief Simon Massie-Taylor will embark on a Stateside schmooze next month in a bid to drum up investment into the English game, City AM understands. The chief executive is set to use the break in play provided by November’s international schedule to head to the United States, just weeks after holding talks with [...]
Spain must host 2035 Rugby World Cup because Europe is sport’s commercial hub Sport Business Just imagine watching a Rugby World Cup final at FC Barcelona’s Camp Nou. It would be sensational. And it is not beyond the realms of possibility anymore after Spain announced its intention to bid for the 2035 tournament. Going up against Japan, which staged the tournament successfully – albeit with a typhoon interrupting proceedings – [...]
Black Knight’s Foley: We will do an AFC Bournemouth at Exeter Chiefs October 22, 2026 AFC Bournemouth owner Bill Foley has said he will replicate the Premier League club’s playbook at newly acquired Prem Rugby team Exeter Chiefs. Foley’s Black Knight consortium – which features Oscar winner Michael B Jordan – purchased Exeter Chiefs over the summer amid a flurry of inward investment into the English top flight rugby competition. [...]
Exclusive: Thatchers to sponsor Prem Rugby as deal struck with Elton John agency October 20, 2026 Prem Rugby will this week announce Thatchers as a new commercial partner as Elton John’s Rocket Sports agency continues to hunt for league sponsors, City AM understands. The English top flight counts London Pride as its beer sponsor but will add the West Country brand to its partnership roster as official cider partner. It is [...]
Women’s British and Irish Lions to play first match in Cardiff October 14, 2026 The first ever women’s British and Irish Lions team will look to sell out the 74,000-capacity Principality Stadium before an inaugural tour to New Zealand. The touring team – made up of players from the Home Nations and the Republic of Ireland – will play France in a send-off match sponsored by insurance giant Howden [...]
Prem Rugby: Attendances down but Newcastle Red Bulls see ticket surge October 12, 2026 Prem Rugby clubs with fresh investment have had mixed ticketing success after the overall league saw an attendance dip for its opening block of games. After three rounds and 15 fixtures of the 2026-27 Prem Rugby season, attendances are down 8.5 per cent on the same period last year, with a mixed set of results [...]
Will on-pitch woes force Harlequins fans and sponsors away? October 9, 2026 Watching Harlequins at the moment is either absolutely soul-crushing or completely baffling, depending on whether you support the London club or not. Soul-crushing because the club is supposed to represent the very best of attacking rugby in a fusion of England internationals and overseas superstars. Baffling because it should never have got this bad, losing [...]
London is running out of development land for sport teams to build stadiums on October 2, 2026 One of London’s greatest assets is its varied and wide-ranging sports scene; six Premier League football clubs, many further down the pyramid; iconic rugby, tennis and cricket grounds; indoor arenas as far as the eye can see. But with success comes a desire to expand and grow. Chelsea are actively assessing options for a new [...]
For Manchester City 2026, see Saracens 2019 October 2, 2026 For Manchester City 2026, see Saracens 2019. Cheating in sport is common on the pitch and it probably happens a lot more than we’d care to admit off it. But sometimes it is blatant and sometimes it is brazen. The independent commission’s verdict on 115 charges lodged by the Premier League against Manchester City was [...]