Huboo’s Post

Local support is growing for rugby league to become an Olympic sport at the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. We’re already supporting our Queensland rugby clubs though Activate! in the 2024-25 Queensland Budget, including: 🏉 $225,000 in 2024-25 out of a $250,000 total spend for Logan City Rugby League to upgrade lighting to support rugby league at Hammel Park. 🏉 $372,201 in 2024-25 out of a $413,557 total spend for council to install lighting at the rugby league field at Doomadgee, home of the Doomadgee Dragons. 🏉 $175,285 in 2024-25 out of a $282,717 total spend for Mount Isa Rugby League to install changerooms to support rugby league at Mount Isa. These upgrades ensure the next generation of Queensland rugby league superstars are ready for Olympic or Origin glory! #QldBudget #Brisbane2032 #AllezAus | Queensland Rugby League | Department of Tourism and Sport

Excited to launch Australian Rugby’s strategy for 2025 - 2029 yesterday. Australian Rugby’s “From Green To Gold” strategy towards 2029 - formed in collaboration with stakeholders across the game including member unions, Super Rugby clubs and the Rugby Union Players’ Association - features three key pillars: performance excellence, participation growth and promotion effectiveness. Performance excellence: To consistently build winning teams in Gold, connecting and inspiring Australians and our rugby community. Participation growth: To increase support for clubs, schools, coaches and match officials to enable growth in participation and strengthen the rugby community. Promotion effectiveness: To leverage major events and engage bigger audiences across platforms increasing visibility, support and interest in rugby and driving commercial value.

Four Asian Rugby Unions Join Forces for Unions Cup to Boost 15s Rugby Growth As we wrapped up the Singapore Rugby Sevens, a landmark event took place that promises to enhance the landscape of rugby in Asia. The Singapore Rugby Union, alongside the rugby unions of Thailand , Chinese Taipei, and the Philippine Rugby Football Union Inc, have signed a groundbreaking Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). 🤝 The Unions Cup: A New Chapter for Rugby in Asia Set to kick off from June 28 to July 6, 2024, the inaugural Unions Cup aims to boost 15s rugby and increase playing opportunities across Eastern and Southeast Asia. This marks a significant commitment to nurturing close-border rivalries, increased playing opportunities and the potential to expand to women's games next year. 🔄 Rotating Hosts, Building Traditions Each participating country will take turns hosting the annual tournament, enhancing the engagement and excitement around #rugby in the region. This collaborative effort not only aims to strengthen the #sport but also to attract commercial partners and align with the broader goals of World Rugby. 🌏 A Unified Vision The aspiration for the Unions Cup is to grow into a six-country tournament to become the equivalent of the Six Nations Rugby. As we look towards the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup and the 2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup, initiatives like the Unions Cup are pivotal in promoting the 15s game.   The future of rugby in Asia is stronger, united, and more exciting than ever!   RugbyDAO Web3 Sports Ventures #AsiaRugby #RugbyUnion #UnionsCup Photo Credit: Asia Rugby

According to website Rugby365, the sale of Newlands Rugby Stadium - to an undisclosed buyer - was voted on, and approved, at a recent Western Province Rugby Football Union council meeting. Following the move of Western Province Rugby’s professional teams to DHL Stadium in early 2022, Newlands Rugby has ceased to be a rugby venue. When Western Province Rugby was placed under administration by SARU in October 2021, one of the major tasks assigned to the administrator was to finalise the sale of the stadium. One of the obstacles included a proposal to have the stadium declared a heritage site however, an independent report by a heritage specialist suggested otherwise. Rugby365: https://bit.ly/4bKLJPr Western Province Rugby: https://bit.ly/3LiXRfR The independent report by Bridget O’Donoghue: https://bit.ly/3LiXRfR #newlandsrugbystadium #sport #rugby #commercialrealestate #rugbystadium #realestateinvestment #capetownproperty #assetmanagement #capetown #propertydevelopment #realestatenews #propertynews

According to website Rugby365, the sale of Newlands Rugby Stadium - to an undisclosed buyer - was voted on, and approved, at a recent Western Province Rugby Football Union council meeting. Following the move of Western Province Rugby’s professional teams to DHL Stadium in early 2022, Newlands Rugby has ceased to be a rugby venue. When Western Province Rugby was placed under administration by SARU in October 2021, one of the major tasks assigned to the administrator was to finalise the sale of the stadium. One of the obstacles included a proposal to have the stadium declared a heritage site however, an independent report by a heritage specialist suggested otherwise. Rugby365: https://bit.ly/4bKLJPr Western Province Rugby: https://bit.ly/3LiXRfR The independent report by Bridget O’Donoghue: https://bit.ly/3LiXRfR #newlandsrugbystadium #sport #rugby #commercialrealestate #rugbystadium #realestateinvestment #capetownproperty #assetmanagement #capetown #propertydevelopment #realestatenews #propertynews

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

Twickenham Stadium becomes the Allianz Stadium: Could this be the turning point for English rugby? Rugby fans across England have felt ‘personally attacked’ by the loss of their beloved “Twickers”. ’How could you?’, they scream. Well, considering the state of the game, quite easily. Our rugby specialist, Will Thompson, breaks down why this deal isn’t all doom and gloom, and could actually be the game-changer rugby in England so desperately needs: 🏟 This deal is reportedly worth more than £100m over 10 years, a staggering figure in rugby terms that will see record numbers invested in the grassroots game and professional clubs. After a difficult few years since Covid, the RFU are keen to avoid any more pain. Fans, players, and key voices in the media have been calling out for the desperate need for investment, and this is the answer. 🏟 This investment will also provide vital funding into the professional game and senior teams, particularly enhancing growth in the women’s game with Allianz already title partner of the Premiership Women's Rugby 🏟 With that, Allianz is a known sponsor of rugby across the world, so it feels an authentic and genuine partnership 🏟 The press release from the RFU mentions ‘improving experiences’ at the stadium too, essential in bringing Rugby HQ into the modern day with a stadium that attracts new fans to generate more revenue, which forms a huge part of the funding for the whole English game; multiple routes to the station might be a start... 🏟 The other alternative at one stage was selling Twickenham altogether and merging the Home of Rugby with the Home of Football – yes Wembley! So we were relieved this deal means our iconic home remains 🏟 Accusations of Twickenham ‘selling its soul’ are somewhat naive, as these types of investments are exactly what every other mainstream sport has done to survive and grow. And just as people still affectionally call Wembley Stadium Connected by EE simply ‘Wembley’, The Kia Oval simply ‘The Oval’, Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium simply ‘Murrayfield’, and the DHL Stadium ‘Cape Town Stadium’, Twickers will always be Twickers to rugby fans After what’s felt like years of ‘what do we do’, this deal feels like the first huge step towards growing and changing the game this nation loves so much. #Rugby #Twickenham #AllianzStadium #RFU

A very disappointing day for rugby in Australia. It seems history is set to repeat itself with another Australian Super Rugby Team ceasing to exist. It is naive to think reducing the professional contracting opportunities by 20% will increase depth and competition. The NRL and AFL have 17 and 18 teams respectively, Rugby will have 4. Which code do you think juniors will steer towards? A 1/4 chance or a 1/17 or 1/18, less career opportunities will equal less depth as potential players seek certainty and better odds of making it professional. How could a governing body be ignorant to a franchise operating insolvent for multiple years? I question whether this failure of corporate governance raises more concerns for the future of professional rugby in Australia.

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

The British & Irish Lions: Roaring Across Rugby History The British & Irish Lions, often simply referred to as the Lions, represent a unique fusion of rugby talent from England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. This storied team embarks on quadrennial tours to face rugby powerhouses like Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. Let’s delve into the rich history and exciting prospects of the Lions: 1. Origins and Tradition The Lions’ lineage dates back to 1888 when they embarked on their inaugural tour to Australia and New Zealand. The iconic red jersey, adorned with the emblematic lion, symbolizes unity across the four nations. The tradition of selecting the best players from each country ensures fierce competition and camaraderie. 2. Memorable Tours The 1971 tour to New Zealand remains legendary. Under captain Willie John McBride, the Lions secured their only series victory against the All Blacks. The 1997 tour of South Africa, led by Martin Johnson, saw the Lions clinch a thrilling series win. The 2013 tour to Australia showcased the Lions’ attacking prowess, with players like George North leaving indelible marks. 3. Upcoming Challenges The next Lions tour is scheduled for 2025, with Australia as the battleground. Who will don the iconic red jersey? Stars from the 2024 Six Nations, like Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, are in contention. The Lions’ clash with the Wallabies promises exhilarating rugby and fierce battles in the scrum. 4. The Spirit of the Lions Beyond the tries and tackles, the Lions embody sportsmanship, respect, and passion. The haka response, the camaraderie among rivals, and the shared pride in representing four nations make the Lions truly special. Whether you’re a seasoned rugby fan or a newcomer, keep an eye out for the Lions’ roaring journey Down Under in 2025. 🦁🏉 #LionsRugby #RugbyTour #Rugbypassion #Lionspride #SixNations