Rugby Union
RFU and Premiership Rugby strike new financial pact
The Rugby Football Union (RFU) and Premiership Rugby Limited (PRL), which governs the top division of the club game in England, have agreed terms on a new eight-year partnership worth over £200m (€235.2m/$259.6m) that is designed to further boost the national team while allowing clubs to benefit from its successful financial performance for the first time.
IRFU chief outlines case for Pro12 overseas expansion
Pro12 organisers are looking into overseas expansion projects in a bid to raise the profile of the pan-European rugby union club competition, with the United States and mainland Europe mooted as possible locations for a new franchise.
Options for Six Nations revamp ‘up for grabs’, says WRU chief
Gareth Davies, chairman of the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU), has said a revamp of the Six Nations is “up for grabs” when organisers of the national rugby union team tournament meet later this month, adding that several options have been put forward in an effort to ease the strain on players as part of a move towards a global calendar.
World Rugby to revamp global licensing programme
World Rugby, the global governing body of rugby union, is seeking to revamp its licensing programme after launching a Request for Proposal (RFP) that encompasses all of its major properties.
Sydney lands 2018 Wheelchair Rugby World Championships
The International Wheelchair Rugby Federation (IWRF) has awarded hosting rights for its 2018 World Championships to the Australian city of Sydney.
World Rugby praises Japanese preparations for 2019 World Cup
World Rugby, the global governing body of rugby union, has praised preparations for its 2019 World Cup, stating that Japan is already ahead of previous hosts in a number of areas at the same stage of planning.
Twickenham Rugby Championship game confirmed, Nelspruit to stage first-ever match
London’s Twickenham Stadium has been formally confirmed as one of the host venues for this year’s Rugby Championship after the full schedule for the national team tournament was unveiled today (Thursday), with Nelspruit in South Africa also set to stage a game for the first time.
Whelan appointed as new Six Nations chairman
Pat Whelan has been named the new chairman of the Six Nations national team rugby union tournament.
Sale Sharks taken over by local investment company
Manchester-based corporate acquisitions and investment company CorpAcq has completed a takeover of English Premiership rugby union club Sale Sharks.
ARU agrees rescue plan for Western Force
The Australian Rugby Union (ARU) and RugbyWA, the governing body of the sport in Western Australia, have reached an agreement to secure the future of Super Rugby franchise Western Force.
World Rugby reveals record-breaking impact of 2015 World Cup
World Rugby, the global governing body for rugby union, has revealed that England’s hosting of the 2015 World Cup resulted in the most economically successful edition of the national team tournament in its history.
Argentina to bid for 2027 Rugby World Cup
The Argentinian government has said the country will bid for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in an effort to take the national team tournament to the Americas for the first time.
Sanzaar to build strategic plan determining Super Rugby’s future path
Sanzaar chief executive Andy Marinos has said the umbrella body for the Argentinian, Australian, New Zealand and South African rugby unions will put together a 10-year strategic plan with a view to overhauling its Super Rugby club competition.
New Zealand Rugby chief sees no compromise on global calendar plan
New Zealand Rugby (NZR) chief executive Steve Tew has admitted the global game faces a “big problem” as stakeholders seek to agree terms on an international calendar following Japan’s 2019 World Cup.
First independent directors appointed as World Rugby furthers reform efforts
World Rugby has today (Friday) continued its reform drive by naming its first independent directors onto a newly-appointed Executive Committee.
Beaumont confirmed as new leader of World Rugby
Bill Beaumont, chairman of the Rugby Football Union (RFU), English rugby union’s governing body, has today (Wednesday) pledged to continue the sport’s development drive after being formally elected as the new leader of its global governing body, World Rugby.
ARU engages Opta in data services partnership
The Australian Rugby Union (ARU) has entered into a four-year partnership with Opta, under which the sports data provider will aid the governing body in developing its digital properties.
Government ruling casts doubt over South Africa’s Rugby World Cup bid
The South African Rugby Union’s (SARU) bid for the 2023 Rugby World Cup was dealt a blow today (Monday) after Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula banned it and three other national federations from hosting and bidding for international events over failings in meeting racial transformation targets in their respective sports.