Big World of Rugby

[solidarity]

All not well financially at Twickers? https://www.theguardian.com/sport/artic ... %20created.
Does it look like a restructuring that's moving cash away from administrators etc to players?

Towards the end it's talking about that big money Middle East deal again.

[justinr73]

The Scots turning their back on one of their own here…

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union ... gl4zpklxgo

[Neill_M]

The Scots turning their back on one of their own here…

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union ... gl4zpklxgo

Scottish Rugby doing Scottish Rugby things, one of the other candidates must have offered a big bag of gold.

[volvo]

Weren't they the only home nation that voted against Ireland's bid for World Cup?

[Neill_M]

Weren't they the only home nation that voted against Ireland's bid for World Cup?

No Wales also did, BUT the Scots did for it for cash and a couple of RWC Warm Up games v France. The WRU Chairman or similar was chair of the committee to assess the bids and promised to back the bid which was judged best by the experts etc which was South Africa.

[volvo]

Stand corrected! Thanks Neil they still did it for a bag of gold

[Jetstream]

Stand corrected! Thanks Neil they still did it for a bag of gold

In 1972 Scotland and Wales refused to travel to Dublin for their matches. England had no problem coming the following year.
English Rugby has always been a better friend to us.

[solidarity]

Stand corrected! Thanks Neil they still did it for a bag of gold

In 1972 Scotland and Wales refused to travel to Dublin for their matches. England had no problem coming the following year.
English Rugby has always been a better friend to us.

Indeed they did. I think they may even have got a rousing cheer when they ran out.

[big mervyn]

Stand corrected! Thanks Neil they still did it for a bag of gold

In 1972 Scotland and Wales refused to travel to Dublin for their matches. England had no problem coming the following year.
English Rugby has always been a better friend to us.

"the following year" is not insignificant.

1972 was by far the worst year of the troubles with a staggering 480 fatalities.

By 1973 that figure had dropped to 255, and while still appalling, indicates that some small measures of control had been exerted.

I'd put my house on none of them coming now if that level of civil unrest existed.

[solidarity]

72 and 73 were part of the 1971-1976 period, the worst of the troubles but interestingly, the only years in which the per capita murder rates in NI have ever been worse than in the USA.

I think you're right, Merv. Certainly no-one would come to Belfast and UR would be playing all of our home games in Cardiff or Glasgow. I've a feeling that NI football fans had to travel to 'home' games in the early 70's.

[solidarity]

From 'Leaders in Sport'

Is Eddie Jordan the future of rugby union?

The multi-club model is here to stay in football, rapidly emerging in cricket and about, if reports are to be believed, to hit rugby union. Former F1 team owner Eddie Jordan, a long-time fan of the sport, is reportedly leading a consortium looking to invest in French second-tier club AS Béziers Hérault and London Irish, the former Premiership team that went into administration last year. Jordan’s group is backed by Northern Irish private equity firm Strangford Capital, while reports say another investment firm, Hokulani Ltd., is also in talks to acquire the club’s assets.

The main story is behind a paywall at the Times that I don't have access to.

Anybody know anything about Strangford Capital?

[solidarity]

Would you have guessed who would be the sponsor of the Oxford v Cambridge boat race?

https://www.theboatrace.org/news/chanel ... artnership

[Bobbievee]

Perhaps to do with the scent of the Thames?

[Jetstream]

From 'Leaders in Sport'

Is Eddie Jordan the future of rugby union?

The multi-club model is here to stay in football, rapidly emerging in cricket and about, if reports are to be believed, to hit rugby union. Former F1 team owner Eddie Jordan, a long-time fan of the sport, is reportedly leading a consortium looking to invest in French second-tier club AS Béziers Hérault and London Irish, the former Premiership team that went into administration last year. Jordan’s group is backed by Northern Irish private equity firm Strangford Capital, while reports say another investment firm, Hokulani Ltd., is also in talks to acquire the club’s assets.

The main story is behind a paywall at the Times that I don't have access to.

Anybody know anything about Strangford Capital?

Article from sportspromedia.com

"-Hokulani Ltd and True Equity also linked with takeover
-Currently no active rugby union clubs run by a shared private owner, according to The Times

Former Formula One team owner Eddie Jordan is part of a consortium that wants to buy English club London Irish and establish a stable of rugby teams, according to The Times.

The group, which includes former South Africa international Bobby Skinstad and ex All Black Andrew Mehrtens, is also reportedly set to buy French second-tier club AS Béziers Hérault. The consortium is backed Strangford Capital, a private equity firm based in Northern Ireland for whom Jordan acts as an investor and adviser.
It is believed there are no active clubs run by a shared private owner, according to The Times. A multi-club ownership structure would mirror the model that is now prevalent in soccer, notably with Manchester City owner City Football Group (CFG).

While CFG will have two clubs competing in Europe this season – City and Girona are playing in the Uefa Champions League – the group will likely look to allowances made by Uefa as a precedent for what could be achieved in a multi-club ownership model.

The Times adds that Michael Flatley, the dancer and creator of Riverdance, who is close friend of Jordan’s, could be persuaded to come on board for the purchase of London Irish. The club has been in administration since June 2023 with debts of more than UK£30 million (US$39.1 million) and was banished from the top-flight Premiership.
Strangford Capital and Hokulani Ltd, the investment company run by businessman Daniel Thomas Loitz, are reportedly both engaged in talks with London Irish’s administrator, ReSolve, about a takeover.

According to The Times, Hokulani has put together a package worth more than UK£20 million (US$26 million), which includes UK£2.7 million (US$3.5 million) for the compulsory repayment of rugby creditors. It valued the London Irish’s brand name, history and intellectual property at about UK£2.5 million (US$3.3 million) and has offered to lease the club’s 64-acre Hazelwood training centre for UK£900,000 (US$1.2 million) over three years before purchasing the site for UK£16.4 million (US$21.4 million).
The three interested parties, the third being True Equity, have also reportedly contacted the Rugby Football Union (RFU) with a view to securing a place for London Irish in the second-tier Championship next season.

As part of the RFU’s tender process, the three parties have until 12th November to submit a full application for entry of London Irish into the Championship from 2025/26. An adjudication process will then take place, which will include an assessment of finances, stadium and squad recruitment. The prospective owners will meet the new tier-two board.
A final decision is due in December.

Wasps and Worcester Warriors, who were both placed into administration in 2022, have also registered their interest in playing in the second division.

The plan is for the Championship to grow from 12 to 14 teams, however, according to The Times, some of the existing clubs will not meet the new set of tier two minimum standards. These include the immediate provision of 500 covered places (seat or standing), the use of Hawk-Eye concussion-spotting technology, and a television gantry and a big screen when required. "
"

I had a brief search on Strangford Capital. Directors are shown as John Daniel Henry McKeown and Marion Lucia McKeown. They have NI addresses.

They appear to specialise magement consultancy.
I am surprised to see Michael Flatey mentioned as a possible investor as I though he was ill. His dancing skills would certainly bring a new perspective to the rugby pitch.

[solidarity]

Thanks, Jet.