Key Takeaways
- • Prem Rugby chief executive Simon Massie-Taylor is set to travel to the United States next month, during the November international break, to seek investment for the English domestic rugby union competition, according to City AM.
- • The trip is designed to pitch private equity houses and family offices on investing in the seven Prem Rugby clubs that have not yet secured major backing.
- • Massie-Taylor will also meet US banks about potential sponsorship, with US-headquartered insurer Gallagher already serving as the league's long-standing title partner.
- • Exeter Chiefs (Bill Foley), Newcastle (Red Bull) and Bath Rugby (Sir James Dyson) have taken investment over the last two seasons, and Gloucester is understood to be months away from a similar deal.
- • Massie-Taylor is expected to present the league as a stable investment despite three clubs going under in recent seasons and outstanding pandemic-era government loans.
Summary
Prem Rugby chief executive Simon Massie-Taylor will travel to the United States next month to drum up investment into English rugby, City AM understands. The trip will use the break in fixtures created by November's international schedule and follows talks held only weeks earlier with Eddie Hearn's Matchroom about a formal marketing collaboration. Massie-Taylor, the former Rugby Football Union chief commercial officer, is expected to meet private equity houses and family offices about investing in the seven Prem Rugby teams that have yet to secure major backing.
Recent stake sales have brought in energy drinks company Red Bull, British billionaire Sir James Dyson and Bill Foley, owner of AFC Bournemouth. Exeter Chiefs (Foley), Newcastle (Red Bull) and Bath Rugby (Dyson) have all received inward investment over the last two seasons. City AM understands Gloucester, current table-toppers, are just months away from joining them. Northampton Saints and Leicester Tigers are also reported to be attracting interest from domestic and overseas suitors.
Massie-Taylor will also meet US banks about potential sponsorship of the league. US-headquartered insurance broker Gallagher is already the long-standing title partner. The league's pitch will centre on stability. Prem Rugby's decision to remove relegation is presented as a key selling point, aligning it with cricket's The Hundred and US sports leagues rather than the higher-risk football pyramid. Massie-Taylor is expected to make the case despite three clubs going under in recent seasons and millions of pounds in taxpayer-backed loans, issued during the Covid-19 pandemic, still owed to the government.
The US visit falls during a four-week break in the Prem Rugby calendar, which accommodates the first Nations Championship finals series across Europe, concluding at London's Allianz Stadium. The development Prem Rugby Cup will run across England during November.
Recent stake sales have brought in energy drinks company Red Bull, British billionaire Sir James Dyson and Bill Foley, owner of AFC Bournemouth. Exeter Chiefs (Foley), Newcastle (Red Bull) and Bath Rugby (Dyson) have all received inward investment over the last two seasons. City AM understands Gloucester, current table-toppers, are just months away from joining them. Northampton Saints and Leicester Tigers are also reported to be attracting interest from domestic and overseas suitors.
Massie-Taylor will also meet US banks about potential sponsorship of the league. US-headquartered insurance broker Gallagher is already the long-standing title partner. The league's pitch will centre on stability. Prem Rugby's decision to remove relegation is presented as a key selling point, aligning it with cricket's The Hundred and US sports leagues rather than the higher-risk football pyramid. Massie-Taylor is expected to make the case despite three clubs going under in recent seasons and millions of pounds in taxpayer-backed loans, issued during the Covid-19 pandemic, still owed to the government.
The US visit falls during a four-week break in the Prem Rugby calendar, which accommodates the first Nations Championship finals series across Europe, concluding at London's Allianz Stadium. The development Prem Rugby Cup will run across England during November.
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