Axel Dierolf’s Post

Great article from The Times today reflecting on how Wasps tapping into hotbed of Kent could ‘transform’ English game. Transforming English Rugby: Wasps' Strategic Move to Kent Exciting developments are on the horizon for English rugby as Wasps eye a revival in the Championship with a potential move to Kent. The plan to play at The Valley in 2025-26, in a ground-share arrangement with Charlton Athletic, is more than just a comeback—it's a strategic move that could revolutionize the sport in the southeast of England. Kent, often overlooked in professional rugby, is home to 63 community clubs and a wealth of untapped talent. By establishing a permanent base here, Wasps aim to create a new powerhouse in the rugby world, offering young players a clear pathway to the professional level. This move aligns with broader efforts by the RFU and Premiership Rugby to decentralize talent development and ensure that promising players don't have to travel hours to access top-tier training. But while Wasps are making plans, Canterbury Rugby Club has already taken action. The club has launched an academy linked to Archbishop’s School in Canterbury, providing four rugby sessions a week for 16 to 18-year-olds, many of whom are refugees from Ukraine and Syria. This initiative, funded by local sponsors, is designed to fast-track talent from Kent into professional rugby. Canterbury is now positioning itself as a hub for Saracens' satellite academy, ensuring that local players have a direct route to top-tier rugby without leaving the county. The implications for the local economy, grassroots sports, and the future of English rugby are profound. As Wasps work towards securing a permanent home in Kent, they stand to not only strengthen the game but also to create lasting community impact. Stay tuned as Wasps, a club with a storied history, embarks on this transformative journey. The Garden of England is ready to bloom into a rugby powerhouse. The full article at - https://lnkd.in/ej3PnZJT (subscription needed) #Rugby #Wasps #Kent #SportsDevelopment #CommunityImpact #TalentPipeline

🏟️ A New Path for Irish Football Ireland has long been a force in global sports, from rugby to boxing, but when it comes to football, we’ve hit a crossroads. While we look back fondly on the highs of the 1990, 1994, and 2002 World Cups, our men’s national team has slipped down the rankings. The women’s game, on the other hand, is thankfully on the rise, thanks to increased investment and the inspiration provided by our recent World Cup heroes. Now more than ever, it's time to focus on the League of Ireland (LOI) academies. The challenges of Brexit have made it impossible for young Irish players to join English clubs before 18, forcing us to rethink talent development at home. We should look to countries like Belgium and Denmark, which have transformed their football systems by investing in grassroots development. We need better facilities, full-time coaches, and stronger connections with European clubs. This isn't just about retaining our talent—it’s about creating a self-sustaining system that allows Irish football to thrive on the world stage once again. A unified, all-island approach to academies and competitions can boost opportunities and elevate standards. The old pathways are closing, but that gives us the chance to forge a new, brighter future for Irish football. #IrishFootball #LOIAcademies #GrassrootsDevelopment #WomenInSport Football Association of Ireland, Leagueofireland.ie https://lnkd.in/eYUhcVby

UEFA EURO 2024: What can we learn about courage, competence, passion, talent mobility and team performance? I think we can learn a lot from the soccer teams of the UEFA EURO 2024. Balancing individual strengths of players, fostering a strong team spirit to encourage everybody to give his best and opportunities to other players to win collectively, displaying persistency as well as flexibility and critical self-assessment yet self-confidence are all ingredients to success. It is an amazing team and logistical effort of all involved such as players, coaches, physiotherapists, medical doctors, cooks, organizing staff and equipment providers. Personally, I have been particularly impressed by teams from countries with limited soccer legacy that still performed well when playing with well-established competitors. Moreover, soccer is a great example how international talent mobility creates successful outcomes for clubs, individual soccer players and – ultimately – for national teams. And their success makes their fans happy and have a positive impact on their societies. Being Austrian I was very impressed by the Austrian national team which consists of players that normally work and play in national leagues in many countries and are guided by an excellent coach. This mobility of talent in my opinion is a key driver of success in all teams. In companies, this diversity and mobility of talent leads to better outcomes. Also, soccer encourages us to do sports which is fun and healthy and has a positive impact on our personal and professional lives. Ultimately, while only one team can be the European national champion, every team that did well in my view is a winner too. I am really looking forward to watching the final game Spain VS England on Sunday! I wish this positive sport festival that unites people will help create positive momentum also in people’s hearts and minds in Germany and all European countries at large! UEFA EURO 2024 UEFA #UEFAEuro24 #Germany #Winning #Courage #Competence #Strength #Teamperformance #Talentmobility #Positivemomentum #Positiveenergy #Getthingsdone

Can Ireland ever produce a #Wimbledon champion? Sports funding in Ireland is dominated by team sports - what can we do when it comes to the development of tennis players? 'On June 11th, Serbia's Novak Djokovic won his 23rd Grand Slam defeating Norway's Casper Ruud in the Roland Garros final. In contrast, Ireland has yet to have a player in the final rounds of any Grand Slam events,' write Garry Cahill and Aine MacNamara from the School of Health and Human Performance, the DCU Faculty of Science and Health. 'Djokovic and Ruud come from countries with less than seven million people so why can't Ireland with a comparable population, produce tennis players with the ability to compete against the best of the world? In our research, we are interested in understanding why some nations struggle to produce tennis stars so that we can identify potential strategies to assist countries like Ireland in nurturing tennis talent.' Read the full RTE Brainstorm blog here: https://lnkd.in/g-rjNe3w #DCUResearch #DCUSport #Wimbledon DCU Research

In a recent post, I stated the financial imbalance between Premiership Rugby, United Rugby Championship & The #Top14, driven by media rights that are considerably greater in favour of the #French League, will see the conitunued outflow of British Players to #France to seek greater renumeration. It's pretty much 101 #supplyanddemand #ecomomics. However, there is a further underlining issue that is much more difficult for the #PremiershipRugby to rectify that puts them at a long-term competitive disadvantage. Over the last couple of decades with heathly promotion and relegation, we've seen the emergence of well-financed 'large-market' city clubs, evenly distributed across France, rise to the top of the #Top14, while many of the traditional 'smaller-town' South-West clubs now residing in #ProD2 or even below. Whereas, the #English league has, for all intents and purposes, become a pseudo ‘closed league’, with clubs residing in the smaller towns or city suburds. The #Premiership has no representation in many of the major city markets, leading to a geographical non-profit maximization scenario. In simple terms if you were starting from scratch Club's would ideally be evenly spread across all the major city markets, in order to maximise the league's audience and revenue potential. The ownership and governance structure of the #Premeriship, where incumbent clubs, along with CVC Capital Partners, own the league and make all the decisions, will naturally, lean strongly towards promoting the continuation of the status quo in terms of it's club representation. Turkeys are not going to vote for Christmas! It therefore seems logical to assume, with this along the media rights disparity, the English are in danger of being in a long-term state of systemic negative competitive imbalance in relation to their French counterparts and number one competitors. #Rugby #SportsEconomics #EnglandRugby #FrenchRugby #economics #sportseconomy #CVC #privatequity #competition England Rugby FFR - Fédération Française de Rugby Ligue Nationale de Rugby European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) World Rugby Rugby Europe Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) WRU - Welsh Rugby Union Scottish Rugby

It is Champions League week, which means that it is also the second week of the 2024/25 UEFA Youth League. The UYL is a great competition, and obviously a key one for player development, but also for recruitment. Often this competition is the first chance for scouts to look at many of these talented youngsters, and even though many of them may not be able to be signed straightaway into the Premier League or EFL, it is still interesting to know what playing in the UYL means for recruitment into the UK. The relevant clause for this is in the ESC players section, where it is stated that if a player has played in at least one continental youth match, i.e. the UEFA Youth League, then they are eligible for an ESC slot. This means that Week 1 will have seen a whole raft of players that are newly eligible for future moves to the UK. So, scouts, recruitment agents, agencies, let's observe closely in Week 2 and see who could be of interest!

'Where professional Rugby is failing the sport' #5 Disparities in financial resources between clubs or leagues has lead to unequal competition and undermines the integrity of the sport. The folly of following football's Premiership. While rugby is popular in certain regions, it hasn't achieved the same level of global penetration as sports like soccer or basketball, limiting its commercial potential. Notwithstanding the propaganda from WR. Rugby's television coverage varies by region, and in some areas, it struggles to compete for airtime and viewership against more established sports. Not withstanding WR's views, professional Rugby has become a niche and elitist sport with little interest in marginal areas, like the Bahamas where US colleges hoover up all available talent. Rugby is challenging for newcomers to understand due to its complex rules/laws and incomprehesive interpretations. This confusion makes watching, playing and refereeing Rugby an unattractive option. The structure of professional rugby competitions are confusing or overly complex, leading to a lack of clarity for fans and stakeholders. Clubs and even countries suffer from a "player drain" as top talent is attracted to more lucrative opportunities elsewhere, leading to a decline in overall competitiveness. In particular English, French and inceasingly Japanese clubs are creating false markets for fairly average players as they chase quantity over quality. In all regions, there is woefully insufficient investment in the community game. Professional Rugby and bloated administrations ensure there are few funds availabe for distribution to the community game. This is my last ever post on all and any matters relating to Rugby. Which I'm sure will be met with relief by many of you. I'm done with Rugby and its lack of vision for the future. Instead I'll focus on sports, especially Rugby League, which leaves Rugby far behind with their vision for the sport.

International Rugby League will assist Ireland, Italy, Lebanon and Scotland to grow the game domestically after the four nations, along with Russia, were reclassified as Affiliate Members.  A meeting of full members on March 14 agreed on significant changes to the classification of nations whose governing bodies have been non-compliant with the terms of the IRL membership policy for up to five years.  Russia’s Association of Rugby League Clubs was already suspended from international competition.  Federazione Italiana Rugby League, the Lebanese Rugby League Federation, Rugby League Ireland and Scotland Rugby League will each receive a parachute payment to invest in areas of non-compliance.  They can re-apply for full membership when their Board deems them ready to do so.  IRL Secretary -General Danny Kazandjian said other nations had applied to become full members.  “IRL currently has five good quality full member applications under evaluation and there are likely to be at least another two later this year,” he said.  “We work continuously with member federations to improve their operations and governance, and we are seeing standards increase on and off the field. Over a long arc, ensuring compliance with IRL’s regulatory framework will result in a bigger, more durable, more prolific sport.  “In many of our members, the most reliable sign of growth is producing more registered rugby league players who play in organised 13-a-side championships, usually for rugby league clubs that are themselves members of their own national federation. Our focus is most certainly on that critical local growth.” Rugby League Ireland Chairman Jim Reynolds said his organisation was already taking steps aimed at quickly regaining full membership. "RLI thanks both IRL and ERL for recognising the significant transformation we have achieved since COVID in addressing the non-compliance issues that have been raised with RLI for the last ten years," he said. "We have worked hard to exceed the standards in good governance and with our youth groups becoming one year older, they will now also qualify to allow us regain full IRL membership status this year end." In other changes, Asociacion Espanola de RL (Spain) was reclassified as an Observer Member.  The national federations for Belgium, Denmark, Ethiopia, Latvia, Saudi Arabia and Trinidad & Tobago are all expelled from the company following several years of inactivity. The reclassification of nations follows the introduction of the current member policy in 2019, which initially allowed for a two-year transition period to allow members time to adjust to the new policy.  Covid then delayed compliance deadlines and every nation was afforded a Covid-free two-year corrective action period following non-compliant status. IRL members are audited each year against the membership policy, with non-compliant full member nations continuing to receive grant funding to invest in areas of deficiency. Full story: https://bit.ly/4a8I4KU

Free to air rugby at risk… If the IRFU gets its way. The argument against the IRFU lobbying to the Irish government about its plan to designate Six Nations matches as free-to-air is around the fundamental principles of broadening public access to national sports and fulfilling a social obligation, especially when the sporting body benefits from taxpayer funding. The IRFU blazers can’t have it both ways for the following reasons- 1. Public Access and Engagement-Its not just about the money. Its bad for the games future and grass roots with only the rich able to afford pay TV. Designating Six Nations matches as free-to-air ensures that all segments of the population have the opportunity to watch and support their national team, regardless of their financial situation. This can significantly increase the sport's fan base and engagement levels. For instance, the FIFA World Cup and the Olympic Games are broadcast free-to-air in many countries under similar legislation, which has historically led to a unifying national experience and increased participation rates at grassroots levels. 2. National Unity and Pride-Its one of our few unifying games. Major sporting events have the power to bring together diverse populations. By making Six Nations matches freely accessible, it fosters a sense of 32 county national pride and unity. The 2012 London Olympics provided numerous events free-to-air, and this approach was credited with not only unifying the country but also inspiring a new generation of athletes. 3. Return on Investment for Taxpayer Funding-When taxpayer money supports a sports body, there is a reasonable expectation that the public should directly benefit from such investments. By ensuring wide access to key matches, the IRFU would be fulfilling its obligation to give back to the community that supports it. The Irish government should resist the blazers and stand its ground.

Congratulations To Spain soccer team 🏆🇪🇸 Spain's victory in the Euro 2024 final was nothing short of remarkable. Here are some key takeaways from their triumph: 1. Dominant Style of Play: Spain played on the front foot, showcasing a possession-based game that emphasized quick passing and movement. Their ability to control matches and create scoring opportunities was impressive. 2. Clinical Finishing: Scoring goals wins championships, and Spain did just that. They netted the most goals in the tournament, demonstrating clinical finishing in crucial moments. Nico Williams and Mikel Oyarzabal were standout performers. 3. Consistency: Spain won all seven of their matches, a remarkable feat. Their consistency throughout the tournament was a testament to their preparation, teamwork, and mental resilience. 4. Youthful Talent: Spain's young stars shone brightly. Nico Williams (22 years old) and Lamine Yamal (17 years old) earned rave reviews. Their fearlessness and skill contributed significantly to Spain's success. 5. Adaptability: Spain faced tough opponents like holders Italy, hosts Germany, France, and England. Their ability to adapt their game plan to different opponents was crucial. In summary, Spain's Euro 2024 victory teaches us about the importance of playing attractive football, nurturing young talent, and maintaining consistency. #eurocup #spain HMC Outsourcing and People Solution