LINDAL Group’s Post

This is well worth the read for anyone interested in #rugby , as well as #blockchain and #dao . Thanks for the update James William de Mortimer , as always a well written article.

We are at a turning point for rugby storytelling with the full release on SuperSport of #ChasingtheSun2 The documentary follows the World Champion Springboks on their journey in 2023 to not only become the second rugby nation to defend a Rugby World Cup, but to stand alone as the only four-time winners (a 50% win rate considering South Africa did not play in the 1987 and 1991 tournaments). The original Chasing the Sun, which details their success in 2019, is now available in it's entirety on RugbyPass TV (season 2 will be released globally on the platform in August). This doc, unlike many attempts in rugby previously, is unfiltered. Recent attempts, from 'Full Contact' on Netflix through to some utterly confusing content on NZR+, has fallen short, although Stan. did go deeper with 'The Wallabies: Inside Rugby World Cup 2023' even if the core of the subject matter dredged back memories of perhaps Australian Rugby's most difficult year. South African Rugby has grown into an alluring brand which represents the challenges, the spirit and the determination of their people, and tapping into this has been instrumental to their success. We know this. To see Siya in the townships and see the many faces, the team has the soul of the people. What we didn't know was that there was tension amidst the Bok leadership, specific psychology by Rassie Erasmus to get into the heads of his players, a siege mentality after their comeback win against England and the subsequent media attack, and that setbacks, such as losing to the world number one ranked Irish in the pool stages - only served as fuel for the South African's quest. - "Champions aren't made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them -- a desire, a dream, a vision." Muhammad Ali - This unprecedented behind the scenes access has many hailing the series as the best rugby documentary ever produced. Rugby is a hard sport, on and off the field. That's the brand. The Boks are this. And they don't try to wash it with a family friendly portrayal about what it takes to be this team of nation builders. If this can be built on, this is the future of content for the sport. And it has taken the 1995, 2007, 2019 and 2023 World Cup champions to show us how this can be done. Bob Skinstad Nick Riggall 🏉🤖W C 👽Matt Hymers David Robertson Leanne Bats ᵍᵐ Timothy Whiley James Murphy Brandon Portnoy Kelvin Watt David Algie Christopher Carroll Andy Marston Roger Mitchell Giles Morgan

Scottish Rugby has announced a two-year extension to its partnership with Aberdeen-based Saltire Energy Group 🏉 💡 This will see the company continuing its commitment to Saltire Energy Rugby Schools Week and the Saltire Energy Caledonia Cup, reinforcing its commitment to the communities it operates in and focusing on the positive impact sport plays in the lives of young people 🏫 🏆 Mike Loggie, CEO of Saltire Energy: “As a passionate follower of rugby, and during such an exciting time for the National teams, it is fantastic to continue our support. We feel strongly about the role sport has in the lives of young people; its ability to motivate and empower which we witness during the school’s competitions which saw over 20,000 pupils engage in the game in one week. Our core values at Saltire Energy very much align with the game; respect, leadership, achievement, enjoyment and engagement and because of that we are excited to continue the journey and be part of the future successes too.” Scottish Rugby Commercial Director, Chris Healy: “The commitment from Saltire Energy to support Scottish Rugby for five years is testament to the many shared values that we hold. Both organisations are aligned with the passion to support the game at grassroots level through our community clubs and schools." Scottish Rugby Director of Rugby Development, Gavin Scott: “The partnership that Scottish Rugby has built with Saltire Energy over the past three years has allowed for significant leaps in our development of activities both within their local region of Caledonia North as well as across the whole of Scotland within our schools’ initiatives. This is aligned with our own strategic work to break down barriers and create wider access to rugby for boys and girls across Scotland." In fact, according to caytoo's proprietary Sponsorship Propensity Index (SPI), the Energy sector overindexes on rugby sponsorship at 1.7x more likely to sponsor rugby rights holders than any other category 📈 Rugby rights holders want to know the sectors to prioritise when selling #sponsorship - so which sectors are they most likely to do a deal with? Find out the Top 5 sectors most likely to sponsor #rugby 👉https://lnkd.in/e_2X7HuV

Shared Values: Treex and Boitsfort Rugby Club 🏉 We at Treex are proud to announce our partnership with the Boitsfort Rugby Club! This is not just about sports; it's a reflection of our values: integrity, passion, respect, and resilience. Integrity is at the heart of rugby and our business at Treex. We believe in honesty and transparency in all our dealings, mirroring the fair play and sincerity found in rugby. Passion drives the rugby community, and it's the same energy that fuels our team at Treex. This shared enthusiasm for what we do creates a dynamic and engaging environment, both on the field and in our office. Respect is fundamental in rugby, guiding interactions on and off the field. At Treex, we embrace this ethos, showing utmost regard for our clients, colleagues, and the environment we operate in. Resilience has been crucial in these challenging times, especially in the 2023 real estate market. Like the rugby players who get back up after a tackle, we at Treex have taken inspiration from this resilience. Despite the market's difficulties, we are adapting, learning, and emerging stronger, ready to tackle any challenge that comes our way. Our partnership with Boitsfort Rugby Club is more than a sponsorship – it's a synergy of shared values, guiding us in business and life. Together, we grow stronger! #TreexValues #RugbySpirit #Integrity #Passion #Respect #Resilience #BRC

Six Nations Rugby and Guinness agree groundbreaking partnership spanning the women’s and men’s Championships Six Nations Rugby and Guinness have announced a new long-term partnership that will see the women’s Championship renamed the Guinness Women’s Six Nations as of 2024, alongside the extension of the Title Partnership of the Men’s Championship, the Guinness Men’s Six Nations. The expansion of the iconic partnership reflects a shared ambition to continue to build both events into the most valued and respected Championships in world sport, offering the widest possible appeal for a global audience. Guinness became the very first partner of the Women’s Six Nations in 2019, at the same time as their Title Partnership of the men’s Championship began. Guinness’s new Title Partnership with the Women’s Six Nations confirms the brand as one of the world’s biggest supporters of women’s rugby. Guinness’ Title Partnership of Women’s Six Nations is a representation of its commitment to create a better society through diversity and inclusion, as part of Diageo’s Society 2030: Spirit of Progress agenda. As the greatest annual international rugby competition, the Guinness Men’s Six Nations continues to grow, with players and fans joined in anticipating its arrival and savouring the blockbuster entertainment it delivers. Commenting on the new partnership with Guinness, Tom Harrison, CEO of Six Nations Rugby, said: "Guinness and the Six Nations have become synonymous, and everyone involved in the partnership, including our unions, is truly excited to continue our work together for many more years. "This is a defining moment for rugby, with huge potential on the horizon and a genuine opportunity to widen the audience for the sport, to help secure its future. "The women’s game is the biggest growth engine for rugby, and through this partnership, Guinness will help accelerate this." Stephen O’Kelly, Diageo’s Global Brand Director for Guinness, added: "We are fully committed to the game of rugby and the values it supports in creating an inclusive game for everyone. That’s why we are proud that Guinness will become the Title Partner of the Women’s Six Nations in 2024, alongside the extension of its Title Partnership of the Men’s Championship." For the full story, go to: https://lnkd.in/er5diqD9 Jeanette Levis Paddy Carberry Jordan Woodhouse-Butt (He/ Him) Rory Sheridan Michael Hall Brendan Cole Craig Maxwell #guinness #rugbyunion #partnership #sportsbiz #sportsindustry #sportsvenuebusiness #sportsvenuebiz #SVBLIVE Sports Venue Business

Just one week after the end of a very exciting Rugby World Cup 2023 in France, it's interesting to see the study from EY in England and where rugby stands among the Gen Z population (those born between 1997-2012). Rugby, a superb game invented over a century ago, finds itself facing numerous challenges in the modern era. The lack of commercial appeal is evident as clubs and competitions around the world continuously face financial difficulties, with some even becoming insolvent (Wasps, Worcester, London Irish, IOM, to name a few..). This concerning trend extends to unions (some of them competed in the Rugby World Cup 2023...), highlighting the urgent need for change. Rugby is a fantastic team sport with the potential to transcend boundaries and reach new heights, captivating the hearts of a REAL global audience. World Rugby as the governing body of the sport, must take bold decisions and implement transformative changes. Opening up rugby to give fair chances to emerging countries is paramount. Only by providing opportunities and genuinely supporting developing nations, they can unlock the true potential of rugby worldwide. Only with a complete revampe of the international competitions, making them more attractive and unpredictable, they can generate the excitement and captivate the attention of new audiences and consumers. Engaging the younger generations is essential, and it requires a bold communication plan too to break through the barriers that prevent rugby from reaching new minds. It's crucial to leverage digital platforms, social media, and other innovative strategies to create a dynamic and interactive fan experience. By embracing technology and new media, rugby will be able to bridge the gap between the traditional values of rugby and the digital age. If World Rugby fails to act now in this direction the sport will be heading for failure.

Wales and Ireland (Rugby Union) will never play each other in their traditional red/green colours again. It is great to see that World Rugby is implementing rule changes to help the viewing experience for colour blind supporters. However, I would urge teams that this will affect to consider the impact on performance of changes in colour. I am sure we all remember the disasterous grey kit worn by Manchester United back in 1996 (well, worn for half a game anyway). This has not stopped them from re-adopting a grey away kit in more recent years but what impact does it have on a players ability to spot their team-mates? I am a strong believer in making your players as visible as possible while on the pitch so this involves wearing kit of a high contrast to both the opponent, and surroundings. I also think that training in the same colours in the build-up to a match helps players 'tune in' to what they will be scanning for on game day. However, much of this is overlooked by big clubs in favour of kit that will sell well in the club shop, and training kit which makes a statement - presumably to also prompt fans to fork out their cash. There will always be conflict in sports between performance outcomes and money makers and kit colour will often be decided upon by those with a finance hat on. #colour #color #sixnations #ireland #wales #rugby #manchesterunited #siralexferguson #football #highperformance #performancevision #sportsvision #sportscience https://lnkd.in/e9AaR5S7

International Rugby League has released its 2023 annual report. The report focuses on the unprecedented growth of the international game in the wake of one of the greatest challenges faced by the IRL after the decision by France 2025 to withdraw from hosting the next World Cup. Difficult, but necessary, decisions made at July’s IRL Board meeting in Singapore, in response to France’s withdrawal, led to more matches being played by more nations in 2023 than any year outside of a World Cup. The introduction of the long-awaited international calendar also provided greater certainty about the direction of international rugby league until 2030 and beyond. The revamping of the World Cup format, with 10 men’s teams and eight each in the women’s and wheelchair tournaments, will ensure more competitive matches featuring many of the game’s best players. The next World Cup will now be staged in 2026 in the Southern Hemisphere before the men’s, women’s and wheelchair tournaments are held as stand-alone tournaments in 2028, 2029 and 2030 respectively. The move will make it more feasible for nations to host a World Cup and has been vindicated by the tender process for the 2028 (women’s), 2029 (wheelchair) and 2030 (men’s tournaments). With a greater focus on regional championships, there will now be a more meaningful qualifying process and the establishment of a World Series to determine the final berths gives added weight to more sanctioned international matches. Among the 2023 highlights were: 🌐 The inaugural Pacific Championships contested by Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa men’s and women’s teams, and Tonga women; 🌐 Tonga men becoming the first Pacific nation to tour England for a three-match series; 🌐 A total of 42 men’s, women’s and wheelchair fixtures involving European nations, including a two-match home-and-away series between RLWC2021 wheelchair finalists England and France ; 🌐 Jamaica hosting the women’s Americas Championship, involving USA, Canada and Jamaica, and a men’s international against the USA Hawks; 🌐 The first ever bilateral international fixtures played in Africa, with South Africa hosting Kenya in two men’s internationals and Nigeria playing Ghana and Kenya in women’s internationals. In addition, France staged an historic two-match tour to Kenya. 📰 https://bit.ly/49vs3yM

Rugby rights holders want to know which categories to prioritise when selling sponsorship - so which categories are they most likely to do a deal with? 🏉 📈 ☎ Landline Telecoms lead the way, at 9.45x more likely to do rugby #sponsorship than any other type of rights holder. This is driven by deals like... - BT Group x Cardiff Rugby, Ospreys Rugby Ltd, Newport Rugby Club Pty Ltd and Scarlets Rugby - Virgin Media x Munster Rugby 🚄 Rail & Road is the second most over-indexing category, driven by a wider range of providers. These include... Train companies - Lumo x Newcastle Falcons Rugby Club - Hull Trains x Hull Kingston Rovers Rugby League Club Bus companies - First Bus x Leeds Rhinos Rugby League Club Taxi firms - Veezu x Bath Rugby - Uber x New Zealand Rugby Car rental brands - Europcar x Leicester Tigers Want to see the Top 15 categories most likely to sponsor #rugby? 👉 https://lnkd.in/eVwgQYin #sportsmarketing

PRESS STATEMENT 📰 The inaugural Sussex 7s Series is set to take place in 2024, which will see a first-of-its kind rugby 7s competition taking place across the county, showcasing the best emerging rugby 7s talent in a “festival” format. The Series (which is being hosted by rugby clubs across Sussex) is entirely new in English rugby, as the only dedicated 7s competition that is ringfence for players eligible to play for the county and who want to play at an elite-level. Gary Henderson, Chairman of Sussex RFU, says “This is a wonderful opportunity for us to expand our offering to Sussex's rugby players. Our aim is to widen our appeal. Sevens is a fast game and is ideally suited to the younger player. This series provides a further vehicle to transition players into the senior game.” The Sussex 7s Series does not operate on a ‘pay-to-play’ model (this is where players or teams have to pay to enter a 7s competition, a standard practice across most 7s events in the UK), which is removing a barrier to entry for players from a low-income household that can’t afford to play regularly and get spotted by scouts at talent-ID competitions. The Series will see 16 rugby 7s teams (8 male and 8 female) battle it out during several legs of intense competition accumulating points to be crowned the best team in Sussex, with clubs across Sussex preparing to welcome the series. The series also breaks new ground by ensuring equal opportunities for female players, in anticipation of the Women’s Rugby World Cup visiting Brighton & Hove in 2025, as the series supports the explosive growth of women’s sport in England. Geraldine Brown, Sussex RFU's Director of Women & Girls' Rugby, says "With the increased profile of women's sport and rugby in particular it is great that we will have a local opportunity to showcase 7s rugby as one of the many ways women and girls can get involved in rugby. With the Women’s Rugby World Cup coming to Brighton & Hove in 2025 it is an exciting time to be involved in the sport.” For the full statement go to www.Sussex7sSeries.com