London Irish KICKED OUT of Premiership, not in ‘any league’ next year June 6, 2023 London Irish have been kicked out of English rugby after failing to meet funding deadlines set by its governing body the RFU. The club were given until 4pm today to either finalise a takeover of the Premiership outfit – who share a ground with Premier League football club Brentford – by an American consortium or [...]
Premier League signs up Guinness to replace Budweiser in £40m deal June 12, 2024 Guinness saw off competition from Heineken to replace Budweiser.
Harlequins and England No10 Marcus Smith signs contract extension July 19, 2023 Blockbuster England fly-half Marcus Smith has penned a contract extension with Harlequins, the club confirmed this morning. The talismanic No10 – who in 2021 became a British and Irish Lion – will stay with the London club beyond next season. It was understood that French giants and a number of Japanese clubs were interested in [...]
Premiership Rugby: Saracens slow off the mark, Bath heating up October 24, 2023 The knockout stages of the Rugby World Cup have largely allowed for the start of the English Premiership to go under the radar. But after two rounds the defending champions are bottom, a trio of West Country teams occupy the top three spots and internationals are slowly returning to action after their escapades across the [...]
World 12s: Plans unveiled for rugby union’s £250m answer to the Indian Premier League, featuring eight franchises playing 12-a-side, 30-minute matches September 7, 2021 Some of rugby union’s biggest names have announced plans to launch a new 12-a-side tournament, World 12s, in England next year. The competition would feature eight franchise teams playing in 30-minute matches over three consecutive weekends in August and September. World 12s chairman Ian Ritchie, the former head of the Rugby Football Union and Premiership [...]
RFU must fix Championship funding after Jersey collapse, says Pirates CEO September 28, 2023 Championship Rugby club Cornish Pirates’ chief executive has called on the RFU to review their funding of the second tier following the collapse of Jersey Reds. Rebecca Thomas has told City A.M. that all clubs are in the same financial boat after Jersey ceased trading on Thursday morning and that the governing body must review [...]
Team by team: Premiership Rugby transfer analysis August 16, 2024 It’s fair to day that I had my fair share of transfers when I was playing professional rugby across England and France. And while rumours of who is going where remains one of the most fascinating parts of the rugby off-season, the confirmed transfers – a month our from the new season – allow us [...]
DCMS and RFU in talks to block the sale of Worcester Warriors to Atlas February 9, 2023 The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is in talks with the Rugby Football Union to block the sale of Worcester Warriors to the Atlas consortium. City A.M. understands that the two bodies are meeting today with the governmental department expected to lobby against Worcester’s administrators Begbies Traynor selling the club to a bid that [...]
Exclusive: Northampton Saints to appoint ex-League boss Radford as defence coach June 27, 2023 Premiership rugby club Northampton Saints are set to appoint former Castleford Tigers boss Lee Radford as their defence coach, City A.M. understands. Saints have been in the market for an addition to their coaching team since former defence lead Ian Vass left the club last Friday. A move to rugby union and Northampton would make [...]
English sports clubs granted £300m emergency funding package November 19, 2020 The government has announced a £300m emergency funding package to help sports clubs in England survive ongoing coronavirus restrictions during the winter. Rugby League and Rugby Union, horse racing and the lower tiers of National League football are among the beneficiaries of the support. The funding, which is largely made up of loans, comes as [...]