Championship Rugby: Coventry for sale but club has Premiership future April 15, 2025 Benefactor of Premiership hopefuls Coventry Rugby Jon Sharp sits down with Morning Wire to discuss why he’d sell up and walk away if the right party came along. A brief poke under the bonnet of rugby union’s financials would be enough to frighten even Formula 1’s greatest mechanic away. In so-called perfect France losses are [...]
URC side Cardiff Rugby to enter administration in blow for Wales April 8, 2025 Two-time European Challenge Cup winners Cardiff Rugby are set for an emergency takeover by Welsh rugby’s governing body the WRU. Players and staff at the United Rugby Championship club were informed on Tuesday by chief executive Richard Holland that the club were poised to go into administration. The decision by Helford Capital Limited, whose investment [...]
How club revenue turns Champions Cup into cash of the titans April 4, 2025 This weekend’s Investec Champions Cup round of 16 may be about getting the win in one of Europe’s most iconic stadiums, but in reality competitions such as this – seen by many as the top club rugby competition in the world – can have a monumental impact on rugby finances. The classic cliches in rugby [...]
Which English teams can win this weekend in the Investec Champions Cup? April 3, 2025 There’s always a fuzzy feeling when the Investec Champions Cup returns to the calendar, especially during the knockout stages. There are six French teams, five English sides and five URC outfits left in the competition but I do fear for the Gallagher Premiership contingent this weekend. Usually the five competing teams – Northampton Saints, Saracens, [...]
England Rugby captain Itoje sees £1m jump in wealth April 3, 2025 England Rugby captain Maro Itoje has seen his wealth jump by nearly £1m, according to his company’s latest accounts. Oghene Limited, whose sole director is England captain Itoje, saw total assets rise from £2.6m to £3.4m in the year to 30 June 2024. The Saracens forward is one of the highest paid players at his [...]
Ineos and New Zealand Rugby end deal after settling £27m sponsorship row April 1, 2025 Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos has formally ended its partnership with New Zealand Rugby after reaching a settlement over a £27m sponsorship deal due to run until 2027. NZR, which is responsible for the All Blacks and Black Ferns, sued Ineos in February after the chemicals giant had stopped making payments in order to “exit our [...]
London City 7s: Rugby returns to the HAC in boost for Square Mile March 31, 2025 Those who have trodden the streets of the City’s Finsbury Square and the surrounding area will be well aware of the Honourable Artillery Company (HAC). Guarding the rare expanse of City grass is Armoury House, home of the HAC since 1735. It boasts its own cricket, football and rugby clubs, and is flanked on all [...]
Investec expand rugby portfolio with SOHK kids tournaments March 28, 2025 Investec has strengthened its rugby portfolio, backing education inclusion charity School of Hard Knocks’ (SOHK) girls’ and boys’ spring rugby tournaments. The FTSE 250 bank, whose London office sits on Gresham Street in the Square Mile, featured at the tournament’s on 27 and 28 March at east London’s Eton Manor RFC. It added to their [...]
Farrell draws heavily on Ireland staff for British and Irish Lions coaches March 26, 2025 Andy Farrell has drawn heavily on his Ireland staff after confirming his coaches for the British and Irish Lions’ tour to Australia this summer. Farrell’s Ireland assistant Simon Easterby, attack specialist Andrew Goodman and scrum coach John Fogarty have all been recruited from the Irish set-up, it was confirmed today. They join Aled Walters, Vinny [...]
FNB to replace MTN as sponsor of South Africa Rugby’s Springboks March 25, 2025 Rugby world champions South Africa will unveil First National Bank (FNB) as its new front-of-shirt sponsor after ditching MTN, Morning Wire understands. The Springboks announced on Tuesday that an eight-year partnership between the team and the mobile telecommunications provider had concluded following a spell that saw the senior men’s team win back-to-back Rugby World Cups [...]