Georgia on my mind: The business of rugby November 22, 2021 Fans back packing stands, pints flowing, and roofs being raised. International rugby’s back and, as the inaugural Autumn Nations Series draws to a close, the on-pitch balance of power between the hemispheres seems delicately poised. Away from the pitch though, tensions exist as to the direction the sport should take post-pandemic. A tough 2020 for [...]
Ollie Phillips: The Boks play simple, boring rugby, but winning is winning November 19, 2021 In tomorrow’s match with South Africa, England have their hardest test. Why? Because they know exactly what they’ll be coming up against. The Springboks don’t often play exciting rugby – it’s simple, boring rugby. They try to bully you, outmuscle you and, when in doubt, send the ball skyward and harass the catcher. It’s not [...]
New stadium in Cornwall could change the sporting landscape October 27, 2021 For a region boasting a population of 550,000, it has long been an anomaly that Cornwall lacks a large-scale sports stadium. That could begin to change today, however, as a decision at today’s Budget could set in motion a series of events resulting in a major shift of Cornwall’s sporting landscape. The Stadium for Cornwall [...]
Premiership Rugby names RFU commercial boss Simon Massie-Taylor chief executive October 12, 2021 Premiership Rugby has hired Simon Massie-Taylor, chief commercial and marketing officer at the Rugby Football Union, to be its new chief executive. Massie-Taylor, who began his career in financial services, has also held commercial roles at the British Olympic Association, the London 2012 Olympic organising committee and Tough Mudder. “This is a key moment for [...]
World Rugby’s 15 minute contact limit: the solution to injury fears or too simplistic? October 4, 2021 Rugby’s physically demanding nature has seen the sport’s organisers implement advanced concussion policies and a science-based approach to medicine, but they are about to go further. World Rugby, the game’s international governing body, last month issued the recommendation that players be limited to 15 minutes of full-contact training per week, across a maximum of two [...]
Exeter’s chief problem: Why did they start Premiership Rugby season without a main sponsor? September 25, 2021 Last weekend, Exeter Chiefs’ Premiership campaign began with a 34-19 loss at Leicester Tigers. Remove the result, the return of the roaring terraces and professional rugby’s big kick-off, and you may have noticed a commercial anomaly in the away side’s kit: Exeter’s shirt was missing a main sponsor. Little more than a year ago, Chiefs [...]
Rugby Europe Super Cup: New second-tier competition for clubs from Israel, Belgium and Russia kicks off effort to raise standard in emerging nations September 23, 2021 It largely slipped under the radar here but across the continent last weekend the Rugby Europe Super Cup kicked off its inaugural season. The competition for emerging rugby nations saw teams from the Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal, Spain and Russia clash in the opening round. But just what is the Rugby Europe Super Cup, and why [...]
Exeter’s chief problem: Why don’t they have a main sponsor? September 20, 2021 On Saturday, Exeter Chiefs’ Premiership campaign began with a 34-19 loss at Leicester Tigers. Remove the result, the return of the roaring terraces and professional rugby’s big kick-off, and you may have noticed a commercial anomaly in the away side’s kit: Exeter’s shirt was missing a main sponsor. Little more than a year ago, Chiefs [...]
Investment bank Jefferies becomes new sponsor of Varsity Matches September 14, 2021 Investment banking firm Jefferies has been announced as the title sponsor of the Varsity Matches, as the Oxford v Cambridge rivalry marks 150 years. In addition to the new sponsor, the varsity games will now take place on the Saturday after the conclusion of the Six Nations in a bid to attract a new audience. [...]
London Irish target millennial rugby fans with Netflix-style monthly ticket subscription for home games September 14, 2021 Premiership Rugby club London Irish have launched a monthly ticket subscription service in an attempt to woo millennials ahead of the new season. Prices start from £30 per month for adults and £9 for children and include entry to all league and cup games at the Exiles’ new stadium, as well as all perks afforded [...]