Rugby Union

Women’s rugby union is set to earn a viewership boost for the 2025 women’s Rugby World Cup, with all matches available exclusively on BBC platforms. 

World Rugby has expanded its relationship with Two Circles to make it the governing body's principal sponsorship and digital sales agency, almost two years since deciding to centralise the bulk of its commercial and media operations.

South Africa Rugby has detailed plans to launch a new women’s club competition with up to 150 centrally-contracted players, with the league potentially debuting as early as next year.

In becoming the shirt sponsor of Scotland’s men’s national rugby union team, Arnold Clark has made its biggest move to-date in establishing its brand outside of Scotland as it replaces rival car dealership Peter Vardy in the role.

Qatar Airways has expanded its presence in rugby union through a sponsorship - brokered by Pitch International - of the British & Irish Lions tour to Australia next summer.

Rugby Australia is beginning to reap the benefits of the attractive schedule of rugby events passing through the country, securing a four-year extension to its Principal Partner sponsorship deal with Cadbury covering its men’s test team.

Just days after announcing an extensive new deal with Juventus, global sports merchandising firm Fanatics has sealed a similar long-term agreement with New Zealand Rugby.

New Zealand Rugby (NZR) is going in the right direction off the pitch and working towards a sustainable financial model, despite making a near NZ$9m (€5.1m/$5.5m) loss in 2023.

The broadcast of England’s test match against Japan on June 22 on an OTT streaming platform will represent a landmark shift after the World Rugby-owned RugbyPass TV secured rights in the UK and Ireland.

Following entry into the Australian marketplace with AFL, Fanatics will operate the official Rugby Australia online store.

A report from consulting firm EY has found that last year’s Rugby World Cup in France generated €1.8bn ($2bn) of spend and a net input of €871m for the host country.

The award of domestic broadcast rights to French rugby union’s Top 14 and Pro D2 to incumbent Canal Plus on improved terms has guaranteed clubs increased revenues over five seasons, from 2027-28 to 2031-32.

World Rugby is increasingly looking to unbundle commercial rights to the women’s game, following similar steps taken by Fifa and Uefa in recent years, but believes that bundled rights deals “still make sense” in certain markets.

Rugby Australia recorded a A$9.2m (€5.6m/$6m) loss following a four-per-cent decline in revenue for 2023, as the sport’s governing body paid the price for a disappointing Rugby World Cup performance.

The dividends are starting to pay off for Rugby Australia's huge hosting programme as Cadbury has agreed a new six-year sponsorship to be the 'Principal Partner' of the women's national team, the Wallaroos.

TNT Sports has acquired rights to the Autumn Nations Series, replacing Amazon as the rights-holder in the UK in a strengthening of the pay-television broadcaster's rugby union portfolio.