Rugby Union

Sanzaar, the umbrella body for the national bodies of rugby union in Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, has hit out at ongoing reports over the future direction of its competitions, stating media claims are nothing but “unsubstantiated speculation”.

The prospect of a return to Super Rugby expansion has emerged following details of a major strategic review embarked upon by Sanzaar, the umbrella body for the national unions in Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, that also outlines new events and reforms for the Rugby Championship.

Scottish Rugby has confirmed the six franchises that will form its new Super 6 competition.

Dan Payne has been appointed as the new chief executive of the Rugby Americas governing body.

John Feehan has stepped down from his position as chief executive of the Six Nations rugby union tournament and the British and Irish Lions team.

Bristol Rugby has announced it will rebrand to Bristol Bears in an effort to attract investment and new audiences in a “challenging market” as it prepares to return to the Premiership, the top tier of English club rugby union.

New Zealand Rugby has opened a first official retail store for its men’s national team and other properties at Auckland Airport.

Rugby Australia chairman Cameron Clyne has admitted to “an incredibly difficult year” after the organisation effectively posted an operating loss of Aus$3.8m (€2.4m/$2.9m) in 2017.

World Rugby’s executive committee has appointed council members Steve Brown and Steve Tew to the Rugby World Cup Limited Board ahead of next year’s edition of the national team tournament in Japan.

The ‘Team China’ strategic partnership between World Rugby, internet company Alibaba and the Chinese Rugby Football Association has been put on hold temporarily after rugby union’s global governing body expressed frustration about the initiative’s rate of progress in the country.

Mark Alexander has been re-elected as president of SA Rugby, the governing body of rugby union in South Africa.

Saracens chairman Nigel Wray has moved to dampen talk of a sale of the English Premiership rugby union club after securing full ownership of the London-based team.

Colombia has been announced as the host of the inaugural Americas Rugby Challenge, a new national team tournament for countries in the Americas.

England’s national rugby union team is set to start playing an annual home Test match away from its traditional home, Twickenham.

Premiership Rugby, the organising body of England’s top division of club rugby union, has appointed Ian Ritchie as its new independent, non-executive chairman.
 

A new study has projected a record economic output for a Rugby World Cup in Japan next year, with the showpiece set to inject ¥216.6bn(€1.7bn/$2.1bn) into the Japanese economy.