Premiership rugby: Just how heavy (or light) is a rugby player? January 27, 2024 As the old adage goes, rugby is a game for all shapes and sizes. Despite many of us mere amateurs claiming that rugby’s size profile has become less diverse over the years the Premiership still boasts a fascinating array of lumps. In how many other sports could you see two men with a 65-kilogram deficit [...]
Challenge Cup can be cure to desperate seasons for Gloucester and Sharks May 23, 2024 Before the start of the current rugby season both Gloucester and the Sharks, from Durban, would have been full of hope for their domestic campaigns. But soon into their Premiership and United Rugby Championship campaigns, things began to unravel and any hopes of winning a league title disappeared over a cliff. It left the two [...]
London Irish owner hits out at rugby as club file for administration June 7, 2023 London Irish have filed for administration having been kicked out of English rugby on Tuesday. The club were unable to show proof of funds to operate next season – either by a new American consortium or by current owner Mick Crossan – and were therefore expelled from “any league” next season. Crossan said in a [...]
Sport sees steep fall in gambling sponsorship as government considers ban and demand grows for social responsibility, says new study July 3, 2021 Gambling sponsorship in sport has fallen sharply ahead of a possible ban, a new report has found. The number of betting companies sponsoring sports teams in England has almost halved since 2019, according to the study by consultancy Caytoo. Gambling’s share of the market has dropped from 15.3 per cent to 8.1 per cent and [...]
Investec Champions Cup: Pool draw shows competition is best of the best July 2, 2024 It may only be July but the Investec Champions Cup season got underway on Tuesday with the pool draws in Cardiff. The 24 clubs taking part – who qualified through their league position or by winning the second tier EPCR Challenge Cup – will compete across four pools of six in December and January before [...]
World’s oldest club rugby fixture back in London THIS WEEK March 7, 2024 Richmond and Blackheath meet on Friday in what will be the 160th anniversary of the fixture. City A.M. hears how this match, in England’s third tier, is keeping arguments of promotion and relegation in the rugby pyramid alive. Many will look to south west London and see England’s Six Nations clash with Ireland as the [...]
Premiership Rugby salary spend hit £100m season before three clubs went bust October 17, 2023 Premiership rugby club salary spending rose to £100m in the season before three clubs folded, the league’s latest report into wages shows. The amount spent on senior salaries saw an increase from £94m in 2020-21 to £100m in 2021-22 in the latest figures released today by Premiership Rugby. The rise represents a larger increase, £6m, [...]
Premiership Rugby confirm new Sporting Commission June 15, 2023 Premiership Rugby has today launched a sporting commission as the English game looks to dig itself out of a hole that has seen three clubs go under. Worcester Warriors, Wasps and London Irish have all been kicked out of the top flight over financial woes. Premiership Rugby has been forced into action with the very [...]
Challenge Cup offers struggling clubs shot at Champions Cup hope July 2, 2024 Most clubs have been in a rut, unable to win in their domestic competition and with their season looking like a failure, at some point in their lifetime. But the Challenge Cup – for clubs who did not qualify for the Champions Cup, plus invitational teams – offers a chance to reach the top flight. [...]
European rugby chairman: Champions Cup is roaring back December 6, 2023 EPCR chairman Dominic McKay on why the Champions Cup is on the up.