Red Bull Launches Rugby Combine To Give New Talent The Chance To Play For England

As part of its ongoing partnership with the RFU, Red Bull has today launched a unique opportunity for anyone in England to have a chance of representing their country on the international stage of Rugby 7s.

Born out of the idea that talent can come from anywhere, the Red Bull Rugby Combine could place participants on a path they’ve never considered before by presenting the chance of rubbing shoulders with rugby elite and representing their country.

Whether you know your line outs from your scrums or have never picked up a rugby ball; the Red Bull Rugby Combine is made up of four bespoke tests that are designed to assess a candidate’s speed, power and agility before ranking them against the rest of the country. 

RFU England’s Women’s and Sevens Performance Manager, Charlie Hayter said:

“The Red Bull Rugby Combine will give the RFU an opportunity to unearth untapped Rugby talent across the country. The key to any successful national sports team is its ability to spot and nurture talent, which might otherwise have gone unnoticed.  

“The tests allow us to assess raw physical attributes rather than previous playing experience. This means The Red Bull Rugby Combine will give anyone the chance of showcasing why they can go on to play at an elite level regardless of previous opportunities they may have had.”

How can people get involved? Find all the information here:

The first round of the Red Bull Rugby Combine will take shape in the form of a moveable container travelling around the country during April and May 2022. Individuals can register their slot for the location closest to them via redbull.co.uk/rugbycombine. Testing is limited to 10 candidates per hour. Opening hours are between 10am-3pm. Though the majority of sites the container will appear in are University Campuses, the Red Bull Rugby Combine is open to everyone.

Once participants have taken on the Red Bull Rugby Combine, their results will be analysed to identify the top performing 20 men and 20 women. The winners will be invited to train in the England Rugby 7s environment whilst RFU management observe to see if any have what it takes to progress to an elite level. All 40 finalists will be invited to attend a day of the England Rugby 7s Tournament at Twickenham, London.

Shared CONMEBOL/UEFA office opened in London

CONMEBOL President Alejandro Domínguez and UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin today opened a shared CONMEBOL/UEFA office in London, which will represent the sister confederations in common projects, including competitions, across various areas.

The creation of a shared office follows on from the strategic cooperation agreement signed by CONMEBOL and UEFA on 12 February 2020, and its extension signed on 15 December 2021.

CONMEBOL President Alejandro Domínguez was also this past weekend re-elected for a second full term in charge of the organisation.

Dominguez took over the organisation in 2016 and was initially re-elected in 2018.

Through the agreement during his tenure, UEFA and CONMEBOL will look to organise a variety of football events, while also cooperating in other areas such as refereeing and coaching programmes.

CONMEBOL President Alejandro Domínguez pointed out the historical significance of the inauguration of the CONMEBOL/UEFA shared London office, stating:

“CONMEBOL and UEFA have decided to take their cooperation to a higher strategic level. We are the two continents with the most notable tradition and prestige in the most popular sport on the planet. On the pitch we are loyal rivals, but the comprehension that football is a powerful force for tolerant, peaceful and pluralistic societies, unites us.”

UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin added:

“Building a fruitful and lasting relationship such as ours came easy as we share the same love and passion for football. This shared office is the symbolic next step in the right direction for UEFA and CONMEBOL. It will help us work jointly to develop football across our confederations and beyond.”

The first major sporting event organised jointly by the two confederations is the Finalissima: a match between the CONMEBOL Copa America 2021 champions Argentina and the UEFA EURO 2020 winners, Italy. This match will be played at Wembley stadium in London on 1 June 2022.

Tickets for the game sold out in less than a week – with only a limited number of hospitality tickets still available.

SPOTV Agrees Deal To Air The Masters Across Southeast Asia

SPOTV has added the 2022 Masters Tournament to the growing list of the world’s biggest sporting events that it broadcasts.

All four days of the Tournament – which will be played at August National Golf Club from April 7-10. More great drama is expected this year and can be watched on SPOTV in this region in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Macau, Malaysia, Mongolia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. It will also be streamed on its mobile app SPOTV NOW, in Indonesia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore only.

The Masters is arguably the highlight of the year on the golfing calendar and was won last year by Hideki Matsuyama – who became the first Japanese player to win one of the four majors in men’s golf.

“The Masters is a major addition to our portfolio of sporting content,” said Lee Choong Khay (CK), CEO of SPOTV.

“SPOTV is privileged to have the opportunity to broadcast one of golf’s most revered and most watched tournaments which we know has a huge following in Asia.”

In addition to the main Tournament coverage, two additional feeds will be available to access via the SPOTV NOW app: Masters on the Range, which features unique coverage, analysis and interviews with players making their final preparations at the Tournament Practice Area; and Featured Groups, where viewers can get to follow two specific featured groups.

SPOTV, which was launched last year, also has rights for The Open, as well as the U.S, Open golf & PGA Championship (in Malaysia and Thailand only) and is the destination to watch golf’s major events. SPOTV also has a slate of other premier sporting content across tennis; Wimbledon and the US Open MotoGP TM, BWF Badminton, and the World Table Tennis events.

Australia Named Preferred Candidate For Rugby World Cup 2029

World Rugby has named Australia as the preferred candidate to host Rugby World Cup 2029.

The announcement cements Rugby Australia’s position to host the men’s and women’s events in 2027 and 2029 as main competition USA enters ‘exclusive dialogue’ for ’31 and ’33.

World Rugby will meet with Rugby Australia and the respective country and state representatives in the coming days ahead of a final vote in May.

“We are excited by Australia’s vision and passion to work with World Rugby to deliver an exceptional Rugby World Cup in 2027 and now 2029, cementing the nation’s status as being at the heart of the Rugby Universe for a three-year period,” World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin said in a statement.

“Confirmation of Australia’s candidacy represents a major milestone for the global advancement of women’s Rugby, completing a roadmap of Rugby World Cup hosting all the way through to 2033 which is supported by the exciting new WXV competition which launches next year.

“This unprecedented certainty will further enable World Rugby to work with all our stakeholders to accelerate fan, broadcast, sponsorship and participation opportunities for the women’s game on a global basis.”Play VideoAttendees at Australia’s Rugby World Cup 2027 Bid launch speak about the potential of a tournament on home soil.

This comes just a week after the government confirmed further funding for both events, which was considered the final hurdle to clear in Rugby Australia’s quest to host the hallmark events.

“We’re delighted to be named preferred candidate to host Rugby World Cup 2029,” RA Chairman Hamish McLennan said.

“This is a truly wonderful addition to our bid for Rugby World Cup 2027 and we would love to welcome the pinnacle event on the women’s XVs calendar to our shores for the first time in 2029.

“Today’s announcement is another step in the right direction for Rugby in Australia as we head toward the final decision by World Rugby Council in May. We continue to be buoyed by the spirit of collaboration in which we are working with World Rugby.

“Hosting two Rugby World Cups is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Australia and the Rugby community and all aspirational future Wallaroos and Wallabies who will shortly be kicking off their season across the country. The fact we have reached this stage in the process as preferred candidate for both the men’s and women’s tournaments is something the Australian Rugby community should be incredibly proud of.

“Again, I’d like to thank the Australian Government for their fantastic support for our bid to date, including last week’s package of support announced in the Federal Budget, which has made today’s announcement possible. Game On for Australia 2027 and 2029!

BOXXER And bet365 Extend Official Betting Partnership

BOXXER, the Sky Sports Boxing promotion, is delighted to announce an extension of its partnership with bet365, who will continue as the Official Betting Partner of BOXXER until 2023.  

Since the company’s inception in 2000 by Denise Coates CBE, bet365 has become a global operation offering an unparalleled online betting experience to more than 63 million customers in more than 20 languages. 

bet365 is renowned for its innovation of award-winning and industry-leading betting products, having pioneered In-Play betting as it continues to break new ground in software innovation. This includes live streaming of 600,000 events per year on its digital platforms and is complemented by its offerings in Casino, Poker, Games, and Bingo.

Under the partnership, bet365 branding will appear prominently across all pre-promotional activity, including press conferences, open workouts and weigh-ins; culminating in extensive in-arena exposure on fight night, with 360-degree branding across the ring corners, ropes and toblerones; and the venue’s screens, banners and boards. bet365 will now feature on the ring canvas, arena barriers and more – occupying more inventory than ever before.

The partnership will also see activations unique to the BOXXER Series, including a co-branded live draw, a branded and gamified ring walk, and bet365-customised fighter stats displayed on the arena screens. 

bet365’s odds will be promoted on BOXXER’s website and social platforms in the build-up to each fight night, with in-play optimisations exclusive to BOXXER. bet365 will also feature across BOXXER’s social content, including logo integration into digital content series such as In The Camp, association with BOXXER’s performance prizes announced after each event, and exclusive content capture with talent. Live streams of BOXXER’s shows will be available on bet365’s platforms in a host of territories globally, to further enhance the experience for customers around the world. 

BOXXER’s next show will take place on Saturday 2nd April at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle, headlined by Savannah Marshall’s defence of her WBO middleweight title against Femke Hermans, as Marshall eyes a mouthwatering clash with long-time rival Claressa Shields in the coming months. Also on the card will be Albanian star Florian Marku vs. Chris Jenkins in Marku’s toughest test to date, and many more. 

Commenting on the extension of the partnership, BOXXER’s founder and CEO Ben Shalom said:

“It’s been a pleasure working with bet365 since our launch with Sky Sports in October 2021, and we’re delighted to be taking our partnership to the next level. bet365 is a truly global brand with great values and we look forward to working on many iconic events together over the coming year.” 

A spokesperson at bet365 said:

“We are delighted to have agreed a long-term partnership with BOXXER following a successful launch platform during 2021. The brand ethos and approach align with the global brand and with a very collaborative approach, we are sure it will be a great 2022-23. Having already delivered iconic bouts together, we’re excited for what’s to come.”

International Canoe Federation Announces Two US Cities As World Title Hosts For 2026

The continued growth of paddling sports in North America has been underlined by the awarding of several International Canoe Federation world championships for 2026 to Florida and Oklahoma.

Among the successful bids presented to an ICF online board meeting on Saturday was a proposal for a first-ever combined canoe marathon and stand up paddling world championships in Sarasota, Florida in 2026.

Oklahoma in USA is already hosting this year a combined SUP and canoe sprint Super Cup.

Sarasota also successfully bid for the 2026 ICF Junior and U23 Canoe Sprint World Championships, and the 2024 ICF Stand Up Paddlng World Championships.

In another major coup for the American Canoe Association, the ICF Canoe Slalom World Championships will return to North America for the first time since 2014, with Oklahoma set to host the 2026 titles.

The 2026 ICF Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe World Championships will be held in Poznan, Poland, for the first time since 2010, while another Polish city, Krakow, successfully bid for the 2026 ICF Junior and U23 Canoe Slalom World Championships.

Krakow also won the right to host the 2025 ICF Canoe Slalom Masters World Championships.

The 2024 ICF Paracanoe World Championships and Paris 2024 Paralympic qualifier will be held in Szeged, Hungary.

Wascana Lake in Canada successfully bid to host the 2026 ICF Dragon Boat World Championships, while the 2025 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Championships were awarded to Plattling/Bavaria in Germany.

This year’s ICF Canoe Sprint Masters World Championships will be held in Bydgoszcz, Poland.

The two-day ICF board meeting also endorsed the executive committee decision to suspend Russia and Belarus from all competitions following the invasion of Ukraine, and also received an update on the ongoing support being provided to Ukrainian athletes and their families.

The board approved an updated Covid protocol for events this year, and also agreed unanimously to join with Paddle Australia on a major legacy project for the planned canoe slalom venue for the Brisbane 2032 Olympics.

French Tennis Federation And Premier Padel Announce Paris Premier Padel Major At Stade Roland-Garros In July 2022

The French Tennis Federation (‘FFT’) and Premier Padel, the official global padel tour governed by the International Padel Federation (FIP), backed by the Professional Padel Association (‘PPA’) and Qatar Sports Investments (QSI), are proud to announce that Stade Roland-Garros will host the Paris Premier Padel Major from 11th to 17th July 2022, as part of a multi-year agreement.

This major event will showcase the elite standards of the world’s fastest growing sport.

The Paris Premier Padel Major (the “Major”) is the first Major tournament to be announced for Europe, and the second Major event to be announced for the official Premier Padel tour, supported by the professional players of the PPA and under the governance of the FIP. Taking place at the historic Stade Roland-Garros, the Major will bring players and spectators together for an unparalleled, premium experience of elite, high-quality professional sport.

The Major will welcome the top seeded players in the sport, offering competitors 2,000 ranking points as well as a record-breaking prize fund.

The FFT signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Premier Padel this week and, with this first European Major, becomes a leading partner and contributor to the international padel scene. The Federation is also committed to furthering the development of padel at all levels in France, where the sport is rapidly growing with already more than 280,000 players.

Premier Padel will organise at least ten tournaments, including four category one Major events, in 2022 and 2023. The final of the first of these events, the Ooredoo Qatar Major 2022, takes place today – live in France on beIN SPORTS and the Premier Padel YouTube Channel. From 2024 onwards, the Premier Padel circuit intends to organise at least 25 tournaments across all its categories, reaching fans in all five continents around the world.

The Paris Premier Padel Major will be broadcast worldwide to a global audience by some of the leading media companies in the world, including ESPN, SKY, Viaplay, SuperSport and – in France – beIN SPORTS. Premier Padel is continuing to engage with broadcasting partners to expand the viewership of this event.

FFT President Gilles Moretton, said:

“It’s an honour to be the first European country to offer the world’s best players a “Major” padel event. The FFT is proud to write padel history by teaming up with FIP and Premier Padel to organize the Paris Premier Padel Major at Stade Roland-Garros. This will propel padel to a new dimension and boost the French fervor for that discipline, which the FFT is supporting through a multi-lever development plan.”

Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, Chairman of Qatar Sports Investments (QSI), said:

“Today is a highly significant moment for the sport of padel – in France, in Europe and on the global stage. We said from day one that the official new tour will take the sport to the highest ever level – and holding a Major at Stade Roland Garros is testament to that. This tournament is very special and will be one of our four Majors, and I would like to extend my thanks to the FFT for their passion and vision for developing padel in France.”

Luigi Carraro, President of the International Padel Federation, said:

“We are absolutely delighted for our sport, and the players, that padel – under the governance of the International Padel Federation – will be played in one of the world’s most iconic and revered venues – Stade Roland-Garros. Padel is growing rapidly in France and we look forward to showcasing our sport at its best to new audiences in this spectacular venue – and to viewers all over the world – under this multi-year deal.”

The announcement and the signing of the MOU demonstrate the vision of the FFT for the sport of padel in France, within the international governance of FIP, and together with the commitment of Premier Padel to take the new tour to major new venues all over the world with FIP and PPA’s support, founded on professionalism and a premium experience for players and fans alike.

IMG Acquires Mutua Madrid Open And Acciona Open de España

IMG, an Endeavor company and global leader in sports, events, media and fashion, today announced it has completed its purchase of the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament and the Acciona Open de España golf tournament from Super Slam Ltd and its affiliates.

One of nine ATP Masters 1000 and four WTA 1000 Mandatory events, the Mutua Madrid Open joins IMG’s roster of leading tennis tournaments, including the Miami Open and several other ATP and WTA events.

With the close of the acquisition, Madrid Trophy Promotion SLU (MTP), the Spanish entity that operates the tournament, is now part of IMG, with MTP’s CEO and tournament director Gerard Tsobanian serving as Senior Vice President, Tennis Events, IMG. Tsobanian and his team continue to oversee the day-to-day running of the Mutua Madrid Open as part of IMG’s global tennis events division led by Gavin Forbes.

Sam Zussman, Co-President of Media and Events at IMG, said: “We are proud to add the Mutua Madrid Open and Acciona Open de España to our portfolio. Drawing on our long history in tennis and golf and the MTP team’s expertise, we will build these events into even more unique and remarkable experiences for players, partners, and fans.”

The 20th anniversary edition of the tournament takes place this year from 26 April – 8 May at Caja Mágica in Madrid, Spain. The Mutua Madrid Open is one of two key clay court events leading up to Roland Garros and boasts an illustrious list of winners that includes Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Rafael Nadal, Petra Kvitová and Novak Djokovic.

MTP also runs the European Tour’s Acciona Open de España golf tournament, which IMG’s golf events division will now support. Founded in 1912, The Acciona Open de España (formerly the Spanish Open) is rich in history and typically takes place in October at the Club de Campo Villa de Madrid where it is broadcast to more than 120 countries.

Minnesota Vikings And Fanatics Lock Up Exclusive 10-Year Omnichannel Merchandise Partnership

The Minnesota Vikings and Fanatics, a leading provider of licensed sports merchandise and global digital sports platform, today announced an exclusive, 10-year omnichannel merchandise and retail partnership to create a new, best-in-class shopping experience for Vikings fans worldwide. As a part of the new deal, Fanatics will assume operations of the organization’s e-commerce, mobile and physical retail efforts.

The team’s new online shopping destination, shop.vikings.com, is now live and powered by Fanatics’ in-house developed Cloud Commerce Platform (CCP). The rapid, state-of-the-art online shopping platform is optimized for fans browsing desktop, tablet, or phone, and features hi-res product landing pages and displays, expanded payment options at checkout, and real-time access to the latest high-quality Vikings products across all categories.

“As the leader in licensed sports merchandise, with a strong track record in the NFL, Fanatics will provide Vikings fans with an enhanced fan experience both online and in team stores,” said Vikings Chief Marketing Officer Martin Nance. “Fans will see a deeper selection, increased availability and the most up-to-date trends in all Vikings gear whether shopping online, at the game or at additional store locations.”

A key aspect of the new partnership is Fanatics’ commitment to significantly invest in the renovation of all three Vikings Locker Room team store locations. Stores at U.S. Bank Stadium, the Viking Lakes campus in Eagan, and the Mall of America will receive fresh upgrades to create an elevated and connected experience for fans. The integration of online and brick-and-mortar locations will create a mirrored shopping experience with the ability to seamlessly shift inventory and remain readily in stock with products wherever fans choose to shop.

“The Minnesota Vikings are one of the NFL’s historic franchises with an incredibly passionate fanbase, and Fanatics is thrilled become the official omnichannel merchandise partner of the team,” said Ed O’Brien, Fanatics SVP of Business Development and Strategy. “We’ve worked closely with the team to create a comprehensive retail offering that will provide fans everywhere with the widest assortment of on-trend, quality merchandise regardless of shopping online, on phones, at the game or at additional team stores around the Twin Cities.”

Through Fanatics’ widespread manufacturing capabilities – including designing, manufacturing, and distributing all Nike NFL fan apparel sold at retail – and leading catalogue of officially licensed merchandise, Vikings fans everywhere will now be able to shop the widest assortment of team products ever available, including jerseys, headwear, hardgoods and lifestyle items. Products will be available across hundreds of officially licensed brands, such as Fanatics, Nike, Mitchell & Ness, New Era, WinCraft, WEAR by Erin Andrews and the NFL x Darius Rucker Collection by Fanatics.

Fanatics is the NFL’s official e-commerce partner and has separate e-commerce deals with 27 NFL teams. The Vikings will become the company’s 10th omnichannel merchandise partner.

Jack Buckner Confirmed As UK Athletics CEO

Jack Buckner has been announced as the new Chief Executive of UK Athletics following the conclusion of an open recruitment process.

Buckner, who is currently the Chief Executive of British Swimming and previously the British Triathlon Federation, will take the reins at UK Athletics as the sport commences build-up towards a fast approaching Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

As swimming’s CEO he oversaw a hugely successful Team GB performance at the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2021, the Olympic team claiming a best-ever haul of eight medals including 4 gold and the Paralympic team was the most successful sport competing for ParalympicsGB with 26 medals won at the Aquatics centre.

Previous to his role at British Triathlon, Buckner worked as Strategic Lead for National Governing Bodies and Market Development for Sport England. Most notably however he is a 1987 World Athletics Championships Bronze medallist, and 1986 European Gold and Commonwealth Silver medallist over 5000m.

On returning to the sport where he originally made his competitive mark, Buckner said:

“I’m incredibly excited to continue my sporting journey at UK Athletics where I know there are so many great people doing amazing things in Olympic and Paralympic sport. Many thanks to Ian Beattie and the Board at UKA for giving me this opportunity.

“Athletics has been a huge part of my life since I was a teenager and I can’t wait to be trackside later in the year. Taking on the CEO role will be an exciting challenge and one I feel privileged to have been offered. I am looking forward to getting started.”

UK Athletics Chair Ian Beattie said:

“I am delighted to announce Jack as our new CEO. We were impressed with the range and quality of applicants for the role at this exciting time for athletics, but Jack was the standout candidate with his feel for the sport and knowledge as an athlete.

“Both the Board and I look forward to working with Jack, starting with this very busy and exciting summer and looking ahead to the fast-approaching Paris Olympics and Paralympics.

“I’d also like to thank Mark Munro in his role as interim CEO and his commitment to leading the senior team over the last few months. I’m pleased to confirm that Mark will continue working for UKA in a senior role and has been appointed to the position of Chief Operating Officer in a crucial role alongside our new CEO. I’ve no doubt we’ve got some great talent in the senior leadership team and organisation and I’m looking forward to working with them in the coming years.”