Holly Coomey’s Post

Update: The RFU has approved the structure of the Premiership and Championship for next season. Promotion/relegation will be subject to a two-legged play-off between the Premiership’s lowest team and the Championship winners, provided that the Championship winners meet the necessary Minimum Standards Criteria. In other words, the status quo will remain. Many had hoped for a revitalised, streamlined second tier to stimulate commercial growth, but this has not materialised, seemingly after opposition from some Championship clubs. This therefore feels a missed opportunity. But it was clear that the reported lack of engagement from the RFU and Premiership with the Championship clubs was always going to make meaningful change difficult. So where does this leave English club rugby? It is not clear that this news will stimulate significant investment into the Championship, but it does at least guarantee the existence of the current Championship clubs and maintains a route through to the top tier. But, as the past decade has shown, this matters little if there is no meaningful investment into the second tier and if there remain significant barriers to entry to the Premiership (a relegation play-off system is already in place but the Championship winners haven’t met the Minimum Standards Criteria, so no play-off has taken place). The same old questions over the levels of funding for the Championship, the Minimum Standards Criteria and the sustainability of a second professional league will therefore continue to plague the game, as they have done for the past decade. Talks are ongoing about the make-up of the Championship, and there will be hope for an improved funding package. But the incongruence of the overlap between the professional and amateur games will seemingly remain, leaving us all to ponder whether a commercially viable professional second division will ever evolve… Let me know what you think. Am I missing something? #sportslaw #rugby #englandrugby https://lnkd.in/ecfAhybP

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

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 …

Championship rugby clubs in England face an uncertain financial future following the announcement of the Professional Game Partnership (PGP) between the Rugby Football Union (RFU) and Premiership Rugby (PRL). The PGP, which aims to create world-leading English teams, will see the Premiership clubs receive £33m per season. In contrast, Championship clubs will each receive their lowest-ever funding of just £133,000, a significant drop from the £650,000 they received in 2016. Many Championship clubs feel excluded from the discussions and frustrated by the financial disparity between the two tiers. Despite new provisions, such as a two-legged play-off for Premiership promotion and increased flexibility in entry criteria, Championship clubs remain sceptical. They face immense financial challenges, particularly with the recent liquidation of Jersey Reds and concerns over future funding. Although the RFU has outlined plans to create a more sustainable second tier and develop young talent, the clubs emphasise the need for greater financial support to bridge the growing gulf between the Championship and the Premiership. #Rugby #RFU #RugbyUnion #SportsFunding #SportsBusiness

𝗙𝗜𝗫𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘𝗦 𝗜 The 2024 Sportsman's Warehouse Premier Interschools season kicks off this weekend, promising another thrilling chapter in the traditional KZN rivalry between two formidable schoolboy rugby teams, Glenwood High School and Maritzburg College 🏉 Which team are you backing? 🔴🟢🟡 OR 🔴⚫️⚪️ Unlock the complete 2024 rugby season fixture list for the Sharks High Schools' Rugby Association now! Simply visit our website and click on the 𝗗𝗜𝗚𝗜𝗧𝗔𝗟 𝗠𝗔𝗚𝗔𝗭𝗜𝗡𝗘𝗦 tab to get your free copy today!! #pegasuspublishing

Hot Take: Why You Shouldn’t Want Ipswich Town To Be Promoted This Season – Opinion https://ift.tt/STlh5oR Sure the three-horse Premier League title race between Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City is pretty interesting, but it’s got nothing on the race to be crowned champions of the Championship. With six match days left of the 2023/24 campaign, only two points separate the top three, with Leicester City, who once looked like the runaway leaders, having slipped to third and out of the automatic promotion places. Their game in hand over table-topping Ipswich Town and Leeds United would put them back in the driving seat should they take all three points.  Ipswich Town are the real surprise. I’m sure most of you reading this expected Leicester City and Leeds United to be right up there battling to be Championship champions, but as the pair were suffering their relegations last season, The Tractor Boys were in England’s third tier, entertaining away trips to Forest Green Rovers, Accrington Stanley and Fleetwood Town. To see Ipswich at the summit of the Championship with six/seven games left to play is both a surprise and a real treat for neutrals like myself. Much like Luton Town this season, having fresh faces, new names and different stadiums coming into the Premier League is vital to the neutral’s continued interest and the value of the ‘product’ – otherwise, if it’s just the same eight or so clubs rotating up and down, what real difference is there between the EPL and that pesky ‘Super’ League? Ipswich’s rise and promotion has and would be a joy to see for folks like myself, however, you’ve read the title, this hot take is all about why you shouldn’t want The Tractor Boys to reach the top tier for the 2024/25 campaign. Let me explain why… There has been a trend over recent years that has seen promoted clubs fall to relegation after just one season in the EPL. Excluding the 2022/23 season and making large assumptions about how the 2023/24 campaign will end, nine (ten including Luton) out of the 18 promoted sides in the last six seasons have suffered relegation immediately back to the Championship. These teams were as follows; 2023/24 – Burnley, Sheffield United and maybe Luton Town (as things stand) 2021/22 – Norwich and Watford 2020/21 – West Brom and Fulham 2019/20 – Norwich 2018/19 – Fulham and Cardiff A 50% likelihood of falling back into the second tier the first time of asking. The gap between the Championship and Premier League is only getting bigger too, with the lack of distribution of wealth, the EPL standard is getting higher whilst the typical Championship side isn’t progressing as quickly.  Ipswich Town, it would be fair to suggest, falls into the ‘typical Championship side’ when you look at the playing squad. And that is the major reason why you shouldn’t want their promotion to happen this season, Ipswich’s squad isn’t Premier League ready and due to the tough nature of cracking into and staying in the ...

Leyton Orient Face Championship Competition For Non-League Star https://ift.tt/wrnYHTO Leyton Orient have joined the race to sign Chippenham Town defender Dan Ellison but face plenty of competition, according to journalist Dan Marsh. The 18-year-old is continuing to impress in the National League South so far this season and has earned a mountain of EFL interest ahead of what’s expected to be a busy summer transfer window for the defender. Which clubs are interested? According to Dan Marsh, there are four clubs interested in signing the 18-year-old, but one is facing a very difficult quest due to an EFL limitation. Championship side Queen’s Park Rangers have entered the race alongside League One trio Leyton Orient, Blackpool and Reading. The Royals are very keen to sign him according to Dan Marsh, but their ongoing transfer embargo means they face the likelihood of missing out, leaving three sides to battle it out. However, no side has been listed as the player’s preferred destination. How much will the deal cost? Chippenham Town have reportedly slapped a £10,000 price tag on his head, as well as including a 20% sell-on clause to protect the football club in the long term. Non-League sides placing a high sell-on clause is normal at this level, as it protects the football club in the long term and allows them to push towards their goal of reaching the National League and becoming a full-time football club. Why are Leyton Orient chasing this player? The defender has impressed in the sixth tier this season, scoring four goals in 26 league appearances as well as making appearances in the FA Trophy and local regionalised competitions. His exposure to first-team football at such a young age is a true testament to how well he has performed so far this season. January 2023 saw a similar move when St. Albans City defender Riccardo Di Trolio was snapped up by Championship side Coventry City. <p>The post Leyton Orient Face Championship Competition For Non-League Star first appeared on LSM Sports.</p> Callum Moseley Read More At Look Sports Media

Check out JMP's latest case study in collaboration with EA SPORTS and That's Football. This video series not only generated impressive social media performance but was an enjoyable project for the entire team. For more details, check out the link in the comments!

Given the current schism in New Zealand Rugby, Roger Mitchell's well-articulated recent article on #Rugby & talk of #Saudi money coming to create a Rugby version LIV Golf on The Good, The Bad & The Rugby podcast (with Mark Foster), the storm clouds of #disruption seem imminent. For me, it comes down to the fact that when compared to other high-profile sports, elite Rugby players play too much, get absolutely battered week-in week-out for quite frankly relatively pitiful remuneration. No matter how much tinkering is done with rules, governance, player vs country contracts, concussion protocols, etc. this lack of money going to its stars leaves the sport more vulnerable than ever for someone to come along with a big cheque and mix things up a bit. The inevitability of this is almost palpable but the nuanced cause and effect, fragmentation and revolution it may cause is up for debate. In the meantime, I'm looking forward to a nice day out on Saturday attending European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR)'s showcase Championship Cup, final Stade Toulousain Rugby v Leinster Rugby at Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, who knows I might have to go to #Riyadh to watch it next year! 😉 RugbyDAO World Rugby AYNE - are you not entertained? podcast Public Investment Fund (PIF)