By: Matt Hardy

Deputy Sports Editor - CityAM Matt Hardy is the CityAM Deputy Sports Editor with a specialism in the business of sport. He covers the likes of rugby, cricket, sporting investment and venture capital funds; while also being across golf, cricket, and the politics of sport.

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Exclusive: RFU in talks over back of shirt and short sponsor deals

March 2, 2026

The question that hangs over rugby union always seems to be a financial one: how can a sport with successful World Cups, a strong women’s game and a generally affluent audience struggle so much to commercialise itself effectively? That doesn’t seem to be an issue for England and its governing body, the Rugby Football Union. [...]
Automatic promotion and relegation from Prem Rugby scrapped

February 27, 2026

Automatic promotion and relegation from Prem Rugby has been scrapped after a crunch RFU Council vote on Friday. Yo-yoing between English rugby’s top flight Prem Rugby and the second tier Champ Rugby will be halted, with expansion teams admitted into the highest form of domestic rugby in England on a case-by-case basis. In what many [...]
Rugby communities ‘staring down the barrel’, says MP

February 27, 2026

Rugby communities are “staring down the barrel of losing their professional side”, according to one MP slamming the Welsh Rugby Union. The governing body of Welsh rugby is under immense pressure to relieve its chief executive – Abi Tierney – and chairman – Richard Collier-Keywood – from their positions and to commit to the future [...]
Formula 1 revenues soar to $4bn as sport cashes in on popularity

February 26, 2026

Formula 1 is closing on annual revenues of $4bn after their recent accounts recorded a 14 per cent increase to $3.9bn. The healthy spike comes as Formula 1 parent company Liberty Media reported a rise in team payouts – by 11 per cent – to $1.4bn ahead of the 2026 season, which will see Cadillac [...]
Welsh Rugby Union chair says Ospreys not necessarily dead

February 26, 2026

The embattled chair of the Welsh Rugby Union has today insisted a reduction of teams to three does not necessarily kill off the Ospreys. The governing body of rugby in Wales has been battling with fans and stakeholders over plans which will see at least one of the four regions struck off to save money. [...]
Exclusive: Times Radio in discussions for Boat Race radio rights

February 26, 2026

Times Radio is in advanced discussions with the Boat Race over the exclusive radio rights for the annual Oxbridge regatta on the Thames, CityAM understands. The race’s TV broadcast is already switching from the BBC to Channel 4 and organisers are now closing in on a move to commercial radio for the first time [...]
Ronaldo acquires stake in second division Spanish team UD Almeria

February 26, 2026

Cristiano Ronaldo has acquired a stake in second division Spanish football team UD Almeria. The Portuguese footballer, who is currently playing for Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr, has taken a stake in Union Deportiva Almeria, who are third in LaLiga 2. The club strengthens Ronaldo’s ties with the Middle Eastern kingdom, with Mohamed Al Khereiji [...]
Emirates boss on Arsenal stadium, leaving F1 and NBA Europe

February 26, 2026

Matt Hardy talks sponsorship and strategy with the executive vice president of corporate communications, marketing and brand at global airline Emirates. At the end of the Premier League season 11 teams will be forced to change their front-of-shirt sponsor and, for some sides, the brand on their strip is synonymous with a particular era of [...]
World Cup events in doubt as US shutdown risks host city funding

February 25, 2026

Fears of “catastrophic” security issues at this year’s Fifa World Cup have emerged after US officials warned of financial shortfalls to the tune of over £650m. A partial federal government shutdown across the pond forced the freezing of nearly $900m of funding that would have been spent on the 11 US cities co-hosting the World [...]
Exclusive: RFU insist they will retain key role in spite of crunch votes

February 25, 2026

The RFU has insisted it will retain its key role across English rugby regardless of the outcome of two crunch votes this week which could see Prem Rugby ringfenced. On Friday the RFU Council will vote on proposals outlined in a recent Governance and Representation Review and is also set to approve plans, dubbed Project [...]

Ryanair hands O’Leary six-year extension

F* f* f***: Tennis star Moutet fined £4k per F-bomb for Queen’s Club outburst on BBC

Fogo de Chao nominated for Best Casual Dining Toast award

By: Matt Hardy

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