Red Bull takes over Newcastle in Premiership Rugby

Scottish Rugby has appointed Gemma Fay as its first Managing Director of Women’s Rugby, reflecting its long-term commitment to growing the women’s and girls’ game in Scotland. In the newly created position, Fay will lead the continued expansion and professionalisation of women’s rugby in Scotland to ensure sustainable success from grassroots through to the elite programmes. The key areas of responsibility for this role are strategic development, commercialisation, and financial budget management. She will work closely with Performance Director David Nucifora, newly appointed Head of Women’s Performance and Pathways Andy Rhys Jones, and Chief Customer Officer Olaf Gueldner. Fay will also join the Scottish Rugby Senior Leadership Team, the first time the women’s game is represented as its own business area at that level, reflecting its position as a pillar of Scottish Rugby’s long-term strategy. As Managing Director, Fay will continue to represent Scotland’s interests at the highest level of the women’s global game. In her role as a World Rugby Council Member, she plays a role in shaping the future direction of women’s rugby worldwide, most notably contributing to the establishment and evolution of the WXV global competition structure. She also serves as Chair of the Women’s Committee at Rugby Europe, further extending Scottish Rugby’s influence in advancing the women’s game internationally. A former Scotland international footballer and record appearance holder with 203 caps, Fay brings a wealth of experience in elite sport and leadership to the role. Since joining Scottish Rugby in 2018, she has helped transform the landscape for women and girls across both the community game, into high-performance rugby while also driving strategic change at a global level. Fay first joined Scottish Rugby as Head of Women & Girls’ Rugby, before being appointed Head of Women’s Performance, where she successfully oversaw Scotland’s qualification for the country’s first-ever Commonwealth Games appearance in 2022 and its first Rugby World Cup in 12 years. In her subsequent role as Head of Women & Girls’ Strategy, Fay has been at the forefront of delivering one of the most significant periods of growth in the history of the women’s game in Scotland. Since the establishment of the Women’s and Girls’ Strategy, registered female player numbers have risen from 6,173 to over 9,800, surpassing Scottish Rugby’s original 2026 target two years ahead of schedule and 73 clubs now field women’s teams across the country, reflecting unprecedented participation growth.

R360 – The League Shaking Up Rugby ⬇️ There’s a lot of noise about R360 (Rugby360) - a proposed global franchise rugby competition fronted by Mike Tindall, Stuart Hooper and Mark Spoors, aiming to launch in October 2026. The Pushback Major unions - England, NZ, Australia, South Africa, Ireland, France, Scotland & Italy, have warned that any player joining R360 will be ineligible for international selection. World Rugby has also delayed official approval while questions remain over scheduling, player welfare and governance. Why It Matters R360 could: - Bring fresh investment and new global audiences - Modernise how rugby is packaged and consumed - Elevate the women’s game even more - Push unions and leagues to innovate faster The Risks - International bans could deter top players - Risk of fragmentation in current leagues and calendar chaos - Grassroots and domestic rugby might lose out Rugby as a whole is evolving, visibility is improving, especially in the women’s game - but it still very much in the rear view mirror of sports like football and cricket in commercial reach and fan engagement. If done collaboratively (unlike LIV golf...), R360 could be a catalyst for change. If not, it risks deepening divisions in a sport already at a crossroads. I think the arrival of R360 should serve as a real wake-up call for rugby, posing as a reminder that the sport needs to keep pushing forward, grow its commercial game, and engage fans in new ways, keeping the sport that we love alive and thriving! Would be interesting to hear what everyone else's thoughts are about the newly proposed league.

What is the long term future of rugby in Twickenham? England Rugby faces a £650m+ problem at Allianz Stadium. And the obstacles being thrown by local residents aren't going away. Here's the situation: - £650m+ needed for stadium redevelopment - Local residents blocking concerts / revenue opportunities - The experience falling behind many stadiums across London - Reliance on an aging demographic filling the coffers The result? A drag on England Rugby that cannot continue. I explored a solution in my piece in City AM this week… And it might not be as crazy as it sounds. My idea: → Buy the London Stadium from the Greater London Authority → Develop it back to 80,000 capacity → Flog the land where Twickenham currently sits The foundations are already there: → Perfect for crowd control → A striking sporting landmark with its own history → Already staged part of the 2015 Rugby World Cup → West Ham's uneasy relationship with GLA creates opportunity When you factor in the property portfolio that could be constructed on the Twickenham site, you've got to wonder whether it's worth just cutting the losses and running elsewhere. Twickenham cannot compete with Wembley on capacity and ticket pricing. It cannot compete with Tottenham on value for money. And prices cannot go up any further without the experience getting exponentially better in return. Sometimes you need to get radical to secure a long-term, modern, profitable future. England Rugby should take the initiative. P.S. Check out my full piece in City AM here: https://lnkd.in/efuhiuC8

Big story today. The rebel rugby competition R360 has reportedly officially been given the green light, with reports that a number of NRL players have already signed on. For rugby union players, eligibility is the sticking point. Michael Chammas is reporting that Rugby Australia is set to blacklist anyone who signs with R360. This issue was raised in our recent post on eligibility issues, where we noted that RA rules didn't appear to cater for participation in competitions that weren't sanctioned by World Rugby. Nevertheless, that is an interesting play from an organisation that has been battling away in recent years. Rather than leaning into R360’s more progressive stance on player rights and finding a way to keep the best athletes available for selection, RA looks to be closing the door. For NRL players, the equation is clearer. A switch to R360 means walking away from Origin and international league, but the lure of multimillion-dollar deals and global exposure will test the resolve of plenty. R360’s approach to image rights is also noteworthy. Unlike the centralised control we usually see, players are said to have greater freedom to monetise their personal brands. That progressive step could be just as big, if not bigger, a lure as the salaries. The risk-reward balance is clear. Stability and long-term opportunities on one side, high pay and brand freedom on the other. If R360 takes off, rugby and league will need to rethink how they attract and reward their stars, both on and off the field. Credit: Michael Carayannis and Brent Read, Daily Telegraph, and Michael Chammas, 1 October 2025.

The Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) is taking a hard line against the emerging R360 competition. Any player or agent involved faces a 10-year ban from the NRL and affiliated leagues. R360, backed by former England Rugby World Cup winner Mike Tindall, reportedly approached top NRL players with multi-million-dollar offers. The ARLC says such breakaway ventures threaten the integrity and long-term stability of rugby league. Bans could only be lifted in rare, exceptional circumstances, and major rugby unions have warned that players joining R360 would also be ineligible for Test rugby. Read the full story at Ministry of Sport: https://lnkd.in/gkSCF7JN

Rugby’s Expansion = Market Lesson How emerging rugby nations mirror emerging markets: talent pipelines, federation investment, and compounding community effects. The Guardian https://lnkd.in/dqwmigJ5

🏉 WORLD RUGBY BLOCKS ENGLAND’S MOVE FOR SOUTH AFRICAN STARS — RFU APPEAL LOOMS 💥 A tug-of-war is brewing at the heart of international rugby, and it’s not about money or power — it’s about identity. World Rugby has blocked England’s attempt to select South African-born Premiership players, including Benhard Janse van Rensburg, citing eligibility rules rooted in an outdated technicality. The RFU has formally appealed the decision, arguing that the players are being unfairly “captured” by regulations that no longer exist. 🏟️ London — 23 September 2025 | World Rugby Council Session At issue is Regulation 8, the eligibility law that binds a player to a nation once they represent its senior, “next senior,” or sevens side. Between 2015 and 2017, South Africa designated its U20 team (the Baby Boks) as its “next senior team.” That decision — revoked in 2018 — means anyone capped in that window, even as a teenager, is locked to South Africa for life. That includes Janse van Rensburg (Bristol Bears), Hanro Liebenberg (Leicester Tigers), and Jacques Vermeulen (Sale Sharks) — all now long-time UK residents who’ve met England’s five-year qualification period but remain ineligible. Ironically, earlier U20 players like Duhan van der Merwe and Pierre Schoeman switched to Scotland freely, having represented South Africa before the capture rule came into play. ENGLAND’S STANCE 🇬🇧 The RFU’s case — presented to World Rugby’s regulations committee last month — argues these players should be treated as “free agents” under post-2018 law. With England’s midfield and back-row depth in flux, coach Steve Borthwick is eager to tap their experience before the 2027 Rugby World Cup cycle. Janse van Rensburg, fresh off a Player of the Match performance for Bristol on October 11, represents the prototype: powerful, versatile, and integrated into the English system. SOUTH AFRICA’S VIEW 🇿🇦 South African reaction has been mixed — more protective than hostile. Fans argue these players had the same youth pathway as current Boks, while others note that South Africa’s player base is vast enough to absorb the losses. Still, it stings to see more homegrown talent in white shirts. WORLD RUGBY’S BALANCING ACT 🌍 No final ruling yet — insiders say a “landmark decision” is imminent. Approving the RFU’s request could unlock eligibility for a handful of captured players worldwide and reignite debates on national identity versus opportunity. It’s not England exaggerating or South Africa blocking — it’s rugby catching up with itself. A sport trying to balance heritage and fairness in a global era where borders blur but loyalty still matters. 🎙️ Story by JustPlainSport.com 📸 Photo by RUCK Rugby #JustPlainSport 🇿🇦 | #RugbyWorld #WorldRugby #EligibilityDebate #BenhardJanseVanRensburg #EnglandRugby #SARugby

National Collegiate Rugby is excited to announce a new three-year partnership with Gilbert Rugby, the world’s leading rugby ball and equipment manufacturer. 🏉 As NCR’s Official Ball and Equipment Partner, Gilbert will provide top-quality match balls and gear to programs nationwide, supporting the growth and excellence of college rugby. 🙌 Read more: https://lnkd.in/gHcTPNV9 #NationalCollegiateRugby #NCR

Gallagher has announced a new three-year partnership with Premiership Women's Rugby Women’s Rugby (PWR), becoming the league’s Official Insurance Partner. The agreement strengthens Gallagher’s long-standing commitment to supporting rugby at every level — from grassroots to the professional game. Building on an eight-year relationship with Premiership Rugby, and partnerships with the Women’s Rugby World Cup and New Zealand Rugby (including the Black Ferns), this new alliance further demonstrates Gallagher’s ambition to empower the next generation of rugby talent. Read more ➡️ https://lnkd.in/d45sMbY #Gallagher #PremiershipWomensRugby #Sponsorship #BrandPartnerships #WomensSport #WomensRugby #SportsMarketing #GrowTheGame #CommunityImpact #UKSponsorshipAwards

Rugby, cricket, tennis ‘low risk’ under new gambling ad rules The UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has updated its guidance on protecting under-18s in gambling advertising, and includes notable references to rugby, cricket and tennis, which have been classified as ‘lower risk’ sports for gambling advertisers. The new guidelines, published on October 14 by the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) and the Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice (BCAP), note sportspeople who do not have a major role in these sports or a high public profile, are considered low risk. The decision to place rugby, cricket and tennis in the low risk category comes at a time when all three sports have been actively trying to attract younger audiences. In June, the Gallagher Premiership, England’s top #rugby union league, rebranded to Gallagher Prem to modernise its image and strengthen its connection with younger audiences. Cricket has leaned heavily on #T20 tournaments to make the game faster and more engaging. Whereas ATP has partnered with Overtime to launch new social media channels designed specifically for younger audiences. Read the full story below 👇 #Tennis #Cricket #Gambling #SportsBiz