Exclusive: RFU in talks over back of shirt and short sponsor deals March 2, 2026 The question that hangs over rugby union always seems to be a financial one: how can a sport with successful World Cups, a strong women’s game and a generally affluent audience struggle so much to commercialise itself effectively? That doesn’t seem to be an issue for England and its governing body, the Rugby Football Union. [...]
Automatic promotion and relegation from Prem Rugby scrapped February 27, 2026 Automatic promotion and relegation from Prem Rugby has been scrapped after a crunch RFU Council vote on Friday. Yo-yoing between English rugby’s top flight Prem Rugby and the second tier Champ Rugby will be halted, with expansion teams admitted into the highest form of domestic rugby in England on a case-by-case basis. In what many [...]
Rugby communities ‘staring down the barrel’, says MP February 27, 2026 Rugby communities are “staring down the barrel of losing their professional side”, according to one MP slamming the Welsh Rugby Union. The governing body of Welsh rugby is under immense pressure to relieve its chief executive – Abi Tierney – and chairman – Richard Collier-Keywood – from their positions and to commit to the future [...]
London Broncos signs deal with Australian fintech OFX February 27, 2026 London Broncos have expanded their sponsorship portfolio, signing a deal with global financial operations company OFX. It comes as London Broncos, the only major English rugby league club south of the sport’s northern heartlands, seek promotion to the Super League having been acquired by an Australian consortium fronted by former Brisbane Broncos legend Darren Lockyer. [...]
Project Forge: Does the plan to save English rugby stack up? February 27, 2026 This morning a plan that could alter the future of club rugby in England is expected to be nodded through by the RFU Council. The plan, dubbed Project Forge, could be the tonic for a domestic game that is in need of revenue boost. Based on the various reports I have read this week on [...]
Welsh Rugby Union chair says Ospreys not necessarily dead February 26, 2026 The embattled chair of the Welsh Rugby Union has today insisted a reduction of teams to three does not necessarily kill off the Ospreys. The governing body of rugby in Wales has been battling with fans and stakeholders over plans which will see at least one of the four regions struck off to save money. [...]
Emirates boss on Arsenal stadium, leaving F1 and NBA Europe February 26, 2026 Matt Hardy talks sponsorship and strategy with the executive vice president of corporate communications, marketing and brand at global airline Emirates. At the end of the Premier League season 11 teams will be forced to change their front-of-shirt sponsor and, for some sides, the brand on their strip is synonymous with a particular era of [...]
Exclusive: RFU insist they will retain key role in spite of crunch votes February 25, 2026 The RFU has insisted it will retain its key role across English rugby regardless of the outcome of two crunch votes this week which could see Prem Rugby ringfenced. On Friday the RFU Council will vote on proposals outlined in a recent Governance and Representation Review and is also set to approve plans, dubbed Project [...]
Exclusive: Inside the plan to keep the Welsh Rugby Union in check February 24, 2026 One of Wales’s leading business figures is rallying support for a committee that would hold the Welsh Rugby Union to account amid its biggest crisis of the professional era. The Welsh Rugby Union and embattled chairman Richard Collier Keywood are facing an Extraordinary General Meeting amid a legal row over plans to reduce the number [...]
Hunslet RLFC’s lesson for rugby league profitability? Pay HMRC February 20, 2026 Something incredible happened in the world of English rugby league this week. No, not the World Club Challenge victory for Hull KR over Brisbane Broncos, but a club in Hunslet RLFC turning a profit. Various reports state that, across the latest possible Companies House records, only Leigh Leopards turned a profit, over £500,000 better off [...]