Sports Business Journal’s Post

"The women's game is the single biggest growth opportunity for rugby." This is the view of World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin, shared during an interview with Leaders in Sport, shortly after the completion of RWC23. Gilpin was sharing his thoughts on realizing the potential of women's rugby. The biggest challenge he sees is the current investment proposition, i.e. invest now for future commercial gain. That's why the sports governing body is exploring new investment strategies, e.g. investment partners, to guarantee the funding needed to rapidly expand the women's game. Gilpin stressed the importance of establishing women's professional rugby in new markets, i.e. in places other than where this is already men's professional rugby leagues; think France, U.K., Australia and New Zealand. It was no surprise then to hear him mention the U.S.A. The foundations for women's rugby in the US are strong. The USA Rugby Eagles 7s are evidence of this, having built a team that are genuine medal contenders for the upcoming Paris Olympics. And with a 10-year runway of events that includes hosting rights of LA28 and RWC33, it's plain to see the commercial opportunity that exists for women's rugby in the US market. Gilpin's concluded his remarks by saying the opportunity for growing the women's game is huge and that what's needed is, "sensible but fast investment." The team at Women's Elite Rugby seem to be reading the playbook. They recently announced the launch of the first US professional women's league in 2025 and have already raised over 50% of their seed funding round. Hearing the big boss talk, it's clear that women's rugby is about take off. Also has me thinking that it might just be the women's game that finally draws in a wider US sports audience. https://lnkd.in/gRCekXHQ

New article for Redbrick Newspaper! Here I explore five ways in which rugby union can be revived in what is undoubtedly a very difficult period for the sport. The success of Derby Weekend in the Gallagher Premiership shows there are ways to attract more viewers but more methods are needed. Have a read below:

Another one..this time Matilda & Chelsea powerhouse Sam Kerr. 87 players high profile players since 2021 out with ACL injuries, missing major tournaments. But why? With the increase in viewership of women's sports, it has put a microscope on these athletes. It has highlighted an age old problem in female soccer players. And the cause is as old as the problem. In the YouTube docuseries Step by Step, Arsenal WSL players and national team stars Beth Mead (England) and Viv Midema (Netherlands) both tore their ACL within one month of each other. The crazy plot twist being that they are also partners. And they would not be the only 2, 2 other teammates that season would tear their ACLs (Leah Williamson and Laura Wienroither). The documentary chronicles the players' return to the pitch, but again asks the question why? There are varying theories as to why there is such a proponderance of ACL injuries in women's soccer: 1️⃣ Female menstral cycles causing joints to be more loose at certain times of the month, but most scientists have not been able to draw a link between the two 2️⃣ Improper equipment, with women often having to wear gear designed for men (I myself always wore male cleats when I played), which has some credibility and traction. Major brands are starting to design female specific cleats and full brands are making female only gear (IDA Sports) 3️⃣ Compressed competition schedule, not allowing for proper rest - this is very true and something the leagues and tournament hosts need to gain a better handle on ❗ BUT the biggest reason to me, and what has always been the #1 issue is inequitable facilities and resources (including staff). In Step by Step, Midema highlights how boys start their academy programs at age 9 (most girls it is much later, late teens) and that the boys teams have a dedicated strength and conditioning coach with them from 9 years old-onward. Girls don't get any of that until 18. And then when it comes to facilities, girls teams have always gotten the shaft. When I was in high school, the girls teams (varsity and JV) weren't allowed to practice at the high school because there wasn't enough room. The boys were given the better field at the school and we had to travel to the local middle school with rocks on the field and where we had to set up our own goals everyday. We were one of the top 10 ranked teams in the state at the time, made it to states all 4 years and where over 50% of the players got recruited to play in college....but we were still an afterthought. 💡 So we have players wearing gear that is no made for them, playing compressed schedules with no rest, with improper training and on subpar pitches, no wonder we have so many ACL injuries. While I hate to see so many players get injuried, I hope it's finally a wakeup call to the soccer community at large that something needs to be done. We need to protect our players. #womenssports #womenssoccer #acl #injuryprevention

In a recent blog, #TeamSPB present five crucial tips for ensuring the efficacy of sports investigations, featuring valuable insight from retired rugby referee Wayne Barnes ➡ https://bit.ly/3NIMNdF #SportsInvestigations | #SportsLaw | #SportsGovernance

What would happen if rugby unions had to be ranked with both men's and women's rugby teams involved? Check out the full episode in the link in the bio or below

During the 2023 Rugby World Cup, I stumbled upon a clip (https://lnkd.in/gk9ZJ2_u) featuring rugby coach Warren Gatland. In it, he extols the virtue of being 'the best at everything that requires no talent' in the rugby game. This includes getting-off the ground quickly, chasing the kick, and getting back on defence - all of which only require effort, not talent. Listening to him made me think that by being the best at these tasks, all of us have the makings of a world-class rugby player. This is even if the flashier rugby skills of (say) side-steps and offloads are beyond us. This made me think of how a good piece of oral advocacy is similarly built on the back of being 'the best at everything that requires no talent'. Whether it is in rolling up our sleeves to draw-up a chronology of events, writing out a question tree for cross-examination, or in researching the legal test that the client's claim must meet. If we take the effort to carry out these tasks, all of us have the makings of a good advocate. This is even if the silkier advocacy skills of (say) having a quick wit for a good come-back is beyond us.

Those who know me, know that I have a huge passion for the USARL (US Association of Rugby League) and the people and players who make it possible. I lent my thoughts on the growth of the game and the National Rugby League in the US to Andrew Webster and The Sydney Morning Herald. After focusing on pathways and development for 5 years in my time coaching the USA Hawks and Brooklyn Kings below is an insight into how we can be successful in cracking the US market: 1. The vast majority of Americans do not know that there are two types of Rugby. The one brand they know is the All Blacks. Explaining the difference between the two is tedious and will lose attention. We want to let them know that the NRL is the highest level of "Rugby in the World." The product speaks for itself; get it in front of them as many ways as you can. 2. NFL is the top 93 of 100 watched shows in the USA annually. Americans think we are crazy because we don't wear helmets or pads. This is our differentiator. We are not looking to replace it; we are looking to add another gladiator sport for them to get behind, particularly when the NFL is out of season. 3. American Sports Fans are not as tribal in nature to their code as Australian Sports Fans. They are much more open to different codes and are tribal to their town. No doubt they have a favourite code, but a fan from Philly supports their town and all the teams that compete within it. How do Denver Broncos Fans become Brisbane Broncos Fans? 4. 80% of Rugby League Players in the USA, played Rugby Union first, and most still play both as the season barely overlaps. We should not be going up against rugby union, but we should be providing pathways and opportunities to play at the highest level so that rugby league is chosen first. 5. Grassroots is the key to real long-term growth in development. The most common pathway to Rugby League is that a player goes to college for American Football, they don't make the team, so they go and play Rugby Union as it is in the College system. We need to be in the college system or, even better, high schools. 6. Bringing in ex-NFL players or those on the cusp won't work. It is a great story, but the NRL is such an established and high-level competition that you need to understand the skills and nuance of the game to compete at the highest level, or you will be found out. This understanding is hard to develop at 22. The NRLW, however, is an untapped opportunity to provide a pathway to the talented women who play in the USA. Hats off to the NRL for committing to 5 years to do something different and really looking to grow the brand. Time will tell of its commercial success, but to hear the excitement and buzz it has given the people and players of the USA who have given everything to play the game we love for free is a huge success in itself. https://lnkd.in/gE9EFpMF

Major League Rugby In The US Needs Help. In these challenging global times leaders and businesses need to adopt new strategies to ensure sustainability and growth of there organisations. The recent sad news that the only remaining Canadian rugby team, the Toronto Arrows, in the US Major League Rugby ( MLR) competition will not be competing in the 2024 season. "MLR and the Arrows organisation explored all avenues to maintain the club's presence in the League. After exhausting all options, Toronto was left with no choice but to voluntarily withdraw". "Toronto will be sharing updates on ticket refunds in the coming weeks" Rugby in the US faces an uphill battle. With Lionel Messi signing to the Inter Miami team this year, "soccer" in the US is exploding. Inter Miami's season ticket price has doubled for next year. The clubs budget has gone from $60m to $300m for next season, and you currently can not buy a Lionel Messi Inter Miami shirt in the USA as they have sold out. This is what rugby is up against in the USA, in addition to the staple diet of Baseball, Basketball, and American Football. Formula One is enjoying sizeable growth in the US market, and rugby needs to find some leaders who are able to bring innovation, and sustainability to the US market. World Rugby faces many challenges for the game across the world, and there are many critics of the organisation, and organisation who appears to focus the majority of there efforts on the razzle dazzle festival which is the rugby world cup every four years. Many clubs across the rugby world are going bankrupt. The old business model of rugby is no longer sustainable, and new and fresh ways of managing and marketing the game to a new audience must be found. Players, Coaches, Officials and families are all being impacted, mental health issues within the sport of rugby are becoming more and more prevalent across the world as communities have to deal with financial closures of clubs. Canadian teams have been the mainstay of the MLR competition over the years, and there needs to be ways found to make it viable for more Canadian teams not to just enter the competition, but be able to be sustainable. The clock is ticking for #worldrugby

** THEY'VE ONLY GONE AND DONE IT AGAIN ** 🎬 Beautifully written piece, pulling together the word-smithing, historical context (dating back to 1872) and data insights from the power trio - Alastair Sledge, James Stringer, Louis Williams. 👏 The following quote is particularly interesting: "Innovations on and off the pitch have been constant, and this has enabled the development of many of world rugby’s finest talents and teams" 👨💻 I think it's important to note these innovations are also enhancing the development of expectations among the fan-base of the game. There is a continuous evolution to what the overall match-day, fan engagement and digitally driven experience needs to be, in order to compliment the on-field entertainment. 🌟 United Rugby Championship x Elixirr