50 Sport’s Post

The new Men's Professional Game Partnership (MPGP), announced today, is a watershed moment for English rugby, for a number of reasons. 🌹 Most notably: 1) It is the first time that the Rugby Players Association has been a signatory to the agreement governing the professional game, recognising the essential role that players have in shaping the future of the sport. 🏉 2) It includes a landmark joint marketing agreement, which should facilitate a more coherent commercial strategy for selling the professional game, which is desperately needed. 📈 There are many other positive talking points in the new deal but, as ever, the proof will be in the pudding. 🍰 However, it is not clear that this amounts to the full "relaunch" of the Premiership that was promised following the demise of Worcester and Wasps. In particular, significant questions remain over promotion/relegation and the status of the Championship. 🤔 The Minimum Standards Criteria have been adapted to make it easier for Championship clubs to get promoted (if they can win a two-legged play-off) but, as the full RFU press release states, "there is currently a major gap in competitiveness and playing budgets between the Gallagher Premiership and Championship clubs and the financial requirements needed to compete in the Premiership". Yet, strikingly, the new MPGP does not appear to tackle this fundamental problem (which results from the lack of funding and commercialisation of the second tier) and the Championship clubs are excluded from the MPGP. It is disappointing that the opportunity has been missed to remedy this chronic issue, which will, no doubt, continue to plague the competition. What do you make of today's announcement? Let me know in the comments. ⬇ #sportslaw #sportbiz #EnglandRugby #rugby #sport https://lnkd.in/gz-Tc_fU

It's the re-brand EVERYONE'S talking about!! No, not THAT one silly. It's the Six Nations! I love rugby. I was fairly crap at it before the two broken legs, but my dad played for WRU - Welsh Rugby Union back in the day so I've always had a vested interest. I love rugby. And not to make this too "marketing-y" but of the 4 Ps we must talk about one of them - PRODUCT - that can never be questioned in my eyes. A day out at the ruggers at any level is a day well spent. I love rugby. But christ, the business is tanking... Whether in Wales it's the car-crash of regions vs the union and total lack of investment at grass roots, or in England the main England Rugby man clearly trousering mad bonuses while the ship sinks, or the comedy of the Allianz deal, or the £15m losses reported by the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) I love rugby. And I KNOW that fixing the mess it's in can't come down to spending untold thousands on crap like this effort for the "SHINY NEW" Six Nations comp - Europe's premier international rugby competition. Let's not all fall into the trap of thinking that a pretty new logo can fix anything - or even be any kind of "catalyst for change" the chaps in the boardrooms will have discussed. I love rugby. What rugby needs is a systematic change, a clear-out of tired management in all the home unions, to look at the French model, to promote itself better, to do better TV and sponsorship deals... everything, done better. Maybe they should get people who are actually building successful businesses (George) to take a look... I'd help.

🏉🏉🏉 **BREAKING NEWS** Premiership Rugby to remain on TNT Sports for at least one more season I think this is great news for rugby in England. There is no mention yet as to value and contract length, but if rumours are to be believed total rights values are expected to be similar to the previous deal. So considering this new deal now bundles in all live matches, some pessimists might say that this is a loss for Premiership Rugby as average revenue per match has likely fallen (complicated to calculate as the last deal was done in a 12/13 teams league context). But I disagree. TNT Sports (BT Sports previously) have proven their competence in delivering high quality rugby broadcasts and analysis, as well as building an engaged rugby fanbase. So 100% matches live on TNT Sports is a great win for maximising reach of a fantastic competition. And it allows them to continue to invest in building this audience. Where rugby is currently domestically, maximising the reach (especially with a 10 team league) has to be the aim of this cycle. Fewer fixtures also mean more games featuring all of rugby's big names stars like Marcus Smith, Maro Itoje and Tom Curry. And aligned with their coverage of the European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) competitions, it cements TNT Sports position as domestic rugby broadcaster of choice. Other considerations: + No mention of the FTA (ITV) deal that was brokered last year so we assume that is out. That seemed to go down well with rugby fans, and attracting new audiences, so we may expect to see something on that. + No mention yet of the future of the FTA highlights show, which did a great job of reaching non TNT subscribers + This deal implies the end of the live streaming solution PRTV - at least domestically. Is an ex-UK only product commercially viable? + We wait to hear more in terms of rights values and contract length. But given terms have only been announced for one season, we would expect any restructure of the Premiership + Championship (plus promotion/relegation etc) would be put in place from 2025/26. And we would expect TNT Sports have a significant say in how that is being shaped. Congratulations to all involved!! https://lnkd.in/evVzQ2ZG

The NRL’s decision to open its 2024 season in Las Vegas might appear to some to be too bold a step for a game like little ol’ rugby league to be taking, but that’s exactly the reason it should be moving in the direction it is. One of the main criticisms from nay-sayers of the Las Vegas five-year “experiment” - during which the game’s governing body will be playing regular season matches in “Sin City” - is that no-one in America knows what rugby league or NRL is. This, to me, is the perfect reason to take matches there. In recent years, for example, the NRL has packed up the State of Origin circus and played matches in Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide – certainly three cities where rugby league is far away from being considered well-followed or popular, but cities nonetheless where the potential to collect new fans and participants is quite strong. Near sold-out venues in those cities on each occasion have proven that the curiosity has been strong enough from people to buy tickets, whether they’re league fans from the eastern states or complete newbies from SA, WA or Victoria.  From nine-a-side tournaments, to pre-season All-Stars matches, to Pre-Season Challenges, World Club Challenges and even super bowl-style play-offs between the state league premiers from New South Wales and Queensland, the game has had many stabs at starting new traditions and trying out new ideas. Some have worked (Covid and the success of the recently created Indigenous vs Maori format of the All Stars concept pretty much saw off the Auckland Nines) but almost every other initiative the game has added to its annual calendar of events has proven successful over time.   The “little ol’ rugby league” I referred to earlier has been rewarded for its bravery in thinking and playing outside the box in the past. These are interesting and exciting times, drawing similarities to the late 1970s and early-80s, when many critics were warning the sport’s officialdom that a crazy idea like State of Origin would never work …

On Monday, the news finally broke: Ilona Maher is joining the UK Women’s Premiership Rugby, signing with Bristol Bears. It’s been rumoured for months and the announcement didn’t disappoint, racking up over 3.5 million views on Instagram. What really stood out was how well Bristol Bears prepared for her arrival. Their content reflected her personality perfectly, showcasing her mix of talent, humour and charisma. By making the announcement so engaging, they kept fans hooked, and the buzz spread far beyond rugby. Even the Olympics social accounts shared her “best bits,” showing just how far-reaching this moment was. It’s a reminder of how powerful social media is for connecting with audiences and building excitement, it remains the number one place to engage fans and create a real impact. This move is important for a few reasons: Women’s Rugby is Growing! -The excitement around Ilona’s move shows how much the sport is gaining visibility. Fans are invested in the players, the clubs, and the action, which is great for the game’s growth. The UK as a Women’s Rugby Hub -The Premiership continues to be one of the best places for female players, offering top-tier support and brilliant opportunities. Moves like this only reinforce its reputation. A Perfect Fit for Modern Rugby -Ilona isn’t just a great player; she’s also brilliant on social media. Her ability to connect with fans online will be a huge boost for Bristol Bears, raising the profile of the club and bringing in new audiences. It’s such an exciting time for women’s rugby. The prospect of watching Ilona play live in the UK is something fans have been waiting for and with the Women’s Rugby World Cup coming to the UK in 2025, the momentum is only building. If you’ve never watched women’s rugby before, this is the perfect chance to get involved. Grab your friends or family and head to a match, it’s going to be an incredible year for the sport!

PRESS STATEMENT 📰 The inaugural Sussex 7s Series is set to take place in 2024, which will see a first-of-its kind rugby 7s competition taking place across the county, showcasing the best emerging rugby 7s talent in a “festival” format. The Series (which is being hosted by rugby clubs across Sussex) is entirely new in English rugby, as the only dedicated 7s competition that is ringfence for players eligible to play for the county and who want to play at an elite-level. Gary Henderson, Chairman of Sussex RFU, says “This is a wonderful opportunity for us to expand our offering to Sussex's rugby players. Our aim is to widen our appeal. Sevens is a fast game and is ideally suited to the younger player. This series provides a further vehicle to transition players into the senior game.” The Sussex 7s Series does not operate on a ‘pay-to-play’ model (this is where players or teams have to pay to enter a 7s competition, a standard practice across most 7s events in the UK), which is removing a barrier to entry for players from a low-income household that can’t afford to play regularly and get spotted by scouts at talent-ID competitions. The Series will see 16 rugby 7s teams (8 male and 8 female) battle it out during several legs of intense competition accumulating points to be crowned the best team in Sussex, with clubs across Sussex preparing to welcome the series. The series also breaks new ground by ensuring equal opportunities for female players, in anticipation of the Women’s Rugby World Cup visiting Brighton & Hove in 2025, as the series supports the explosive growth of women’s sport in England. Geraldine Brown, Sussex RFU's Director of Women & Girls' Rugby, says "With the increased profile of women's sport and rugby in particular it is great that we will have a local opportunity to showcase 7s rugby as one of the many ways women and girls can get involved in rugby. With the Women’s Rugby World Cup coming to Brighton & Hove in 2025 it is an exciting time to be involved in the sport.” For the full statement go to www.Sussex7sSeries.com

Fans show their Super Rugby super powers! NZR+ has launched two Play Predictor games to elevate both the DHL Super Rugby Pacific and Sky Super Rugby Aupiki competitions for rugby fans. The Play Predictors give fans an “always on” second screen experience, whereby they can watch the live action unfold on the field and use the NZR+ app to track how their predictions perform. There are $250NZD All Blacks Shop vouchers up for grabs weekly, as well as bragging rights amongst friends and colleagues 🏉 The Play Predictors are also a way to showcase our Super Rugby competitions to a global audience, giving the clubs, the players and their fans an additional platform of exposure. The Play Predictors are free to play for anyone with an NZR+ account. One of our first winners, Matt, was excited to get shopping at the All Blacks shop. "I've never owned an All Blacks jersey, so that will definitely be on the list," he shared. "I'd also better grab something for the kids too!" NZR+ provides highlights and rapid recaps for every Super Rugby match, so fans can see exactly how they earned points once the round is complete. We’ve been proud to collaborate with the teams at Endeavor and LiveLike to bring Play Predictor to life. These Play Predictors are only Phase 1 in our gamification roadmap, and we are looking forward to launching more exciting fan experiences when the international series starts in July. Give the Play Predictors a try this weekend and see how your powers of prediction rank against rugby fans all over the world: Super Rugby Aupiki: https://lnkd.in/gR8PFed9 Super Rugby Pacific: https://lnkd.in/gH5pEvvu To win the prizes, you must be 18+ and be a resident of NZ, Aus, UK or Fiji. Further T&Cs apply.

As I sit here, still processing the USA's bronze medal win in Olympic rugby, I'm overwhelmed with emotion. I didn't step onto that field in Tokyo, yet the victory feels deeply personal. Since 2008, rugby has been my life, my passion, my everything. And now, it seems, the world is finally catching up. The flood of congratulatory messages from friends and family is surreal. It's as if, overnight, the sport I've dedicated my life to has suddenly become visible. After two Rugby World Cups, three seasons playing professionally abroad, and countless hours of sweat and sacrifice, this moment of recognition feels like a long-awaited validation. But this isn't just about me. This is about every woman who's ever been told her sport doesn't matter. It's about every girl who's dreamed of being a professional athlete but was told there's no future in it. Because let me tell you something: that future is here, and it's brighter than ever. Women's rugby isn't just growing – it's exploding. The participation rates are soaring, financial backing is increasing, and the energy around the sport is electric. Companies are waking up to the immense potential of women's sports, and rugby is at the forefront of this revolution. To all the doubters who said women's sports would never draw crowds or attract sponsors: watch us now. To all the visionaries who see the untapped potential: the time to act is NOW. This is your moment to be part of something extraordinary, to support women's teams directly, to help shape the future of sports. Mark my words: what you're seeing is just the beginning. The investment opportunities available today will seem like bargains tomorrow. We're not just playing a sport; we're changing the game entirely. So here's my call to action: Believe in women's sports. Invest in women's rugby. Be part of this incredible journey. Because when we look back years from now, we'll remember this as the moment everything changed. The future of women's sports is here. And it's glorious. #WomensRugby #ChangingTheGame #InvestInWomensSports #FutureIsNow #USARugby Women's Sports Foundation Global Rugby Players Foundation USA Rugby

Today marks the end of another intriguing Six Nations Tournament. Rugby is my Go-To metaphor for understanding how teams work best, what creates real success. So, what does this great sport continue to teach us about team dynamics and organisation? (At least) Five things spring to mind........................................ 🏉 It has a place for everyone: The 15-person lineup demands members of all shapes and sizes, strengths, backgrounds and abilities. You literally cannot win with a One Size Fits All pool of talent. 🏉 It's a team of subteams: Within the match-day 23, there are forwards, backs, the pack, the kickers, and various permutations forming rucks, mauls and line-outs. The game depends on Agility of Collaboration. 🏉 It's a squad of many leaders: The Head Coach, the Forwards Coach, the Backs Coach, the Captain, AND every team member that draws everyone in for a huddle or shares a sideword of advice before a key decision. Rugby creates Leadership Magnitude. 🏉 Heads-up rugby is a lesson for everyone: Moving away from traditional ways of organising, heads-up rugby means playing what's in front of you not expecting or playing to a predictable pattern. Heads-up rugby always responds to the needs of the Here and Now. 🏉 When rugby teams win, heritage wins: To credit the sport's greatest winners, the All Blacks and the Springboks, rugby is never about points on boards, it's about the Maori culture, the spirit of Ellis Park, June 24, 1995, Nelson Mandela. So, whether Ireland become likely tournament winners today or agonisingly pass up the chance at the last minute, I will remain rugby's lifelong fan and student. #rugby #irishrugby #teamdynamics

🏉 Exciting times ahead for NZ Rugby as the board plans to transfer power to a new independent group! But wait, why are people so grumpy about it? 🧐 Let's explore and make a bold prediction about the future of rugby in New Zealand. 🔮 Prediction: 1. The move to a more independent governance structure will bring fresh perspectives and innovative ideas to NZ Rugby, ultimately strengthening the organization. 2. Within the next two years, we can expect to see greater transparency, accountability, and strategic decision-making that will propel New Zealand's rugby to new heights on the global stage. 🏉 Commentary: 1. Change is never easy, especially in a sport as beloved and traditional as rugby. However, embracing this evolution is essential for the long-term sustainability and success of NZ Rugby. 2. By transitioning to an independent group, NZ Rugby signals a commitment to adaptability and progress, aligning with the dynamic nature of modern sports governance. 🔮 Bold Predictions: 1. Expect to see enhanced inclusion and diversity initiatives to support the growth of rugby across all communities in New Zealand. 2. The new governance model will likely drive stronger commercial partnerships, leading to increased revenue streams and investments in grassroots rugby development. 🏉 In conclusion, while the road ahead may be met with skepticism and resistance, the transformation of NZ Rugby's governance structure presents a unique opportunity for growth and revitalization in the sport. Let's embrace change and look forward to an exciting future for rugby in New Zealand! 🏆🌟