City A.M. debate: Should the Middle East host Champions cup rugby? September 8, 2023 Last Monday, City A.M. exclusively reported that both the United States and Middle East had bid to host rugby’s Champions Cup final. And while there was general disdain towards the idea from fans, a significant proportion of that was directed towards the idea of the Middle East – and Saudi Arabia in particular. Here City [...]
Ed Warner: Will this really be the best Rugby World Cup ever? September 7, 2023 Are you ready for the best ever Rugby World Cup? A tournament for the ages? Two phrases that would best be banned, argues Ed Warner.
New rugby agreement must provide England team to ‘be proud of’, club CEO says September 6, 2023 A new Professional Game Agreement for rugby must have the ultimate aim of improving England’s fortunes, new Gloucester Rugby chief executive Alex Brown has told City A.M. The deal between clubs and the Rugby Football Union, which dictates salary caps and player release rules among other aspects of how the top flight functions, is due [...]
Gloucester Rugby CEO: We were a big club, now we’re a sleeping giant September 5, 2023 In their 150th season, everything should be looking rosy for Gloucester as the Cherry and Whites have spent the last couple of years dodging the financial woes that have caused other Premiership clubs to cease trading. But they aren’t exactly thriving on the pitch. Having never won a top flight professional domestic trophy or claimed [...]
Exclusive: Women’s rugby set for invitational Champions Cup final September 4, 2023 This year’s Champions Cup rugby finals weekend is set to include an invitational women’s fixture for the first time as European chiefs look to take advantage of the growth in the game, City A.M. can reveal. Gloucester-Hartpury, champions of England, and Stade Bordelais, champions of France, could play each other under plans proposed by European [...]
Exclusive: Middle East and United States bid to host Champions Cup final September 3, 2023 European rugby chiefs are considering bids which would see the Champions Cup final staged in the Middle East or the United States, City A.M. can reveal. The finals weekend of the world’s premier club rugby competition, the Champions Cup, and its sister competition the Challenge Cup have traditionally housed themselves in core rugby regions. But [...]
Exclusive: European rugby chiefs in Challenge Cup sponsor talks August 31, 2023 European rugby chiefs are in exploratory discussions with companies over a potential title sponsor for the Challenge Cup, City A.M. can reveal. The relative of the Champions Cup, which on Thursday announced bank Investec as its title sponsor on a five-year deal, the Challenge Cup has not had a sponsor since insurer Amlin partnered the [...]
Investec hand rugby vote of confidence with Champions Cup sponsorship August 31, 2023 Investec has handed rugby a much-needed vote of confidence by striking a five-year deal to replace Heineken as sponsor of the Champions Cup. Europe and South Africa’s premier club competition has been without a sponsor since the Dutch beer brand, involved since 1995, stepped away from the title association in June. It represents a huge [...]
Exclusive: Greenpeace to target Rugby World Cup fan zones August 30, 2023 Greenpeace is planning to target next month’s Rugby World Cup as the campaigning group ramps up protests against “greenwashing” by oil companies. The organisation told City A.M. it would make its presence felt at the tournament’s official fan zones and outside stadia in France, where the action begins next week. It follows a summer of [...]
Industries tops front of shirt list despite no Premier League deal August 9, 2023 Industries have overtaken consumer services as the chief sector for front of shirt sponsors in England’s top sports with automotive brands facing a new-found slump, according to new research released today. Of the 225 clubs assessed – across men’s and women’s football, rugby union, rugby league and cricket – just under 15 per cent, or [...]