Rugby Union
BMS replaces Westpac on Queensland Reds jersey
Australian Super Rugby Pacific team Queensland Reds has named global insurance broker BMS Group as its new front-of-jersey sponsor in a four-year agreement, from 2024 to 2027
Second Major League Rugby team folds, placing league in jeopardy
A second Major League Rugby team has folded in as many weeks with the New York Ironworkers, also known as Rugby New York, joining the Toronto Arrows in withdrawing from competition in the 2024 MLR season
RFU posts £5m profit for 2022-23, media rights growth now a ‘significant focus’
Increasing broadcast revenues has been cited as an immediate target for the Rugby Football Union (RFU), with the sector still lagging behind pre-Covid levels, the English governing body has revealed
Rugby Australia finalises A$80m loan, private equity not off the table
Rugby Australia has concluded its capital raise programme, today (Friday) entering into an agreement with Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) that is designed to underpin investment during a crucial upcoming period for the governing body.
Harvey Norman opts against Super Rugby Pacific title renewal
Stalwart sponsor of Australian sport, the retail giant Harvey Norman, has opted not to extend its deal with Rugby Australia as the domestic market title sponsor of the Super Rugby Pacific competition
MLR brings in Globant to revamp OTT platform after success of Fifa remit
Major League Rugby has signed a wide-ranging commercial partnership with digital consultant and software provider Globant, which encompasses an overhaul of its over-the-top (OTT) platform, The Rugby Network
eToro to exit Rugby Australia sponsorship
Global trading platform eToro will not renew its sponsorship agreement with Rugby Australia when it ends this year, calling time on a three-year relationship
TNT Sports commits to multi-year coverage of Premiership Women’s Rugby
UK pay-television broadcaster TNT Sports has acquired rights to Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR), England’s rebranded domestic rugby union club competition.
Lions to stay on Sky for 2025 tour of Australia
UK pay-television broadcaster Sky has maintained its long-standing connection with the British & Irish Lions by securing rights to the team’s 2025 tour of Australia.
Rugby World Cup boosts TF1’s financial results
French commercial broadcaster TF1 has pointed to the impact of a home Rugby World Cup (RWC) as group net profit and revenue for the media segment of the company rose year-on-year for the third quarter.
Lucy Basden-Smith | Women’s rugby needs a thriving club game – and brands to back it
Lucy Basden-Smith, managing partner at Havas Play UK, explores what women's rugby union needs to take a much-needed step forward.
Defender extends Premiership Rugby deal after high-profile RWC campaign
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has extended its ’Official Vehicle Partner’ agreement with English club rugby’s Premiership Rugby in support of the Defender SUV brand.
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New elite Nations League to launch, Rugby World Cup expanding in ‘significant’ calendar overhaul
World Rugby has today (Tuesday) approved the launch of a new competition for men’s international teams as part of a wide-ranging reform of the calendar that will also include an expansion of the World Cup to 24 teams in 2027.
England semi-final defeat peaks at 8.7m to give ITV biggest audience of year
ITV, the UK commercial broadcaster, recorded its biggest audience of 2023, as 8.7 million people tuned into watch the closing stages of England's dramatic defeat to South Africa in the Rugby World Cup semi-final.
TF1 falls short of Rugby World Cup TV record as France head out
France's thrilling Rugby World Cup quarter-final defeat to South Africa drew the best audience of the year for commercial broadcaster TF1, but it was not enough to set a new all-time tournament viewership…
Court rejects challenge to MultiChoice’s RWC sublicensing terms
A legal challenge filed by South Africa’s eMedia Investments against the terms of pay-television operator MultiChoice’s Rugby World Cup sublicensing deal has failed after being struck from the roll at …
Lions bring in IMG as global licensing agency
The British & Irish Lions have appointed IMG as their worldwide licensing agency in a multi-year deal running through 2027.
Mitsubishi Electric joins Women in Rugby sponsorship programme
Japanese electronics and electrical equipment manufacturing company, Mitsubishi Electric, has become the latest sponsor with existing ties to World Rugby opting to expand its association through wide-ranging backing of the women’s game.