Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) chief executive Roger Lewis has questioned the ‘modest’ amount of money the home nations make from the British and Irish Lions tour.

The Lions are currently touring Australia which will end in a three-Test series against the Wallabies, with the tour becoming an integral part of the international rugby calendar.

Every four years the Lions tour Australia, New Zealand or South Africa, but Lewis has claimed that discussions need to be held over the money received by the home nations.

“This is the subject of much debate at the moment, in terms of the monies generated by the Lions,” said Lewis.

“The majority, by a country mile, of the revenue generated goes to the host country, so in this case it’s Australia.

“For the home unions, the shareholders of Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales, the numbers are relatively modest.

“You are in the low figures of millions to be shared between the four of us.

“So it is not a significant revenue generator.”

£40m for Australian Rugby

Reports suggest the Australian Rugby Union will bag £40m ($62.5m) from the tour whilst the Lions will share a meager £6m ($9.4m) – most of which is generated from sponsorship.

“The first thing is to understand all of the dynamics around it [a Lions tour], and I know the British and Irish Lions are doing that themselves and understanding what their costs are and the benefits,” Lewis added.

“It is something that does need to be looked at now because the game has taken off since the last great Lions win in ’97.

“In 2001, 2005 and 2009 [Lions tours]… it was very different from the world we are in now, so the world has moved on and now is the time to look at it afresh.”

Location: Tampa Bay, medstore US

Closing Date: 9th October 

Core Functions:

• – Prospect new team sponsors for the organization
• – Present, medical negotiate and close new team sponsorship deals
• – Employee is responsible for work directly related to management policies or general business operations of company or customers under the supervision of Chief Partnership Officer
• – Employee is expected to have the training, experience and knowledge to perform the responsibilities of this position with general supervision only
• – Employee is expected to regularly exercise discretion and independent judgment
• – Employee is responsible for work directly related to management policies or general business operations under the supervision of Chief Partnership Officer

Skills & Abilities

• – High level of professionalism
• – Documented and proven track record in revenue generation
• – Superior organization and multi-tasking skills
• – Superb written and verbal communication skills
• – Excellent relationship building and interpersonal skills
• – The ability to work independently and demonstrate innovation and initiative
• – A strong work ethic and the ability to thrive in a deadline driven environment
• – Proficiency in MS Office products (Word, Excel, Access and Outlook)

Experience & Education

• – A Bachelor’s Degree or commensurate work experience
• – Experience in selling broadcast media assets
• – Minimum of five years sales experience in the sports and/or entertainment industry, with a main emphasis being corporate sponsorship sales and business development
• – Experience in attaining corporate relationships with key decision-makers
• – Experience giving public and group presentations

Work Environment

The Company is a professional, fast paced, creative business environment.  Other environment conditions:

• – Extended evening, weekend work hours sometimes required. Required to work all home and some away games.  May have to work occasional holidays.
• – Stressful and demanding work environment in executing work on short deadlines.
• – Computer and desk work a significant part of daily activities.
• – Sitting, standing, working with hands for extended period s of time.
• – Rarely is lifting more than 20 pounds required.
• – Job duties require employee to drive personal vehicle
• How to Apply
• Click to apply HERE

English Premier League giants Manchester United have signed a multi-year partnership with Chinese digital sports media platform Sina Sports.

The agreement will see Sina Sports has secured exclusive rights to broadcast the club’s 24-hour MUTV channel in China.

Sina Sports will make MUTV programming available across its digital platform, which includes its website, mobile site and mobile app.

This will include full, as-live coverage and highlights of the club’s Premier League and UEFA matches, coverage of weekly press conferences and pre-match build up. 

Manchester United group managing director, Richard Arnold, said: “This is an important and exciting partnership, not only for Manchester United but also for our Chinese fans.

“The club works tirelessly on new and innovate ways in which we can engage with our fans and this is a classic example of how our commercial partnerships allow us to do this.”

Arthur Wei, Sina Senior vice president and GM of Sina Sports, added: “This partnership is a great example of the vision we have to provide Chinese fans with more and more diversified, deeper sports content.

“We anticipate this will make great strides to change the way China watches and understands the game of football.”

{jcomments on}

English Premier League club Arsenal have agreed a new long-term partnership with Chinese sports and cultural development company Irena. 

The deal will see the two parties work together on a new programme to drive grassroots football across China, store which will begin with the opening of Arsenal Soccer Schools throughout the country.

Read more HERE.

The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) has received a warning from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) after the Israeli flag and federation name was removed at a Congress in Tunisia.

The Congress in Hammamet earlier this year led to a report by Patrick Hickey, price the IOC Delegate Member for Autonomy.

A statement from the IOC read that they had : “noted that the WBSC reacted quickly to the incident and addressed this issue quickly when contacted by the IOC task force, with the Tunisian Baseball Softball Federation handed a six month suspension.

“Following the recommendation by the IOC task force, the IOC Executive Board decided to issue a warning to the WBSC regarding this incident to ensure that a similar situation is not repeated in the future.”

The statement added that it was of “critical importance of maintaining respect for all members of the Olympic Movement and upholding the Olympic values at all times,” with President Thomas Bach saying the warning was a “clear signal  that the IOC is not accepting any kind of discrimination.”

Tunisian sanctions

WSBC President Riccardo Fraccari had been contacted by the Israel Association of Baseball President Peter Kurz demanding he “severely reprimanded” and to “sanction” them from holding events and tournaments.

The Tunisian Baseball Softball Federation has received a six month suspension and will be made to prove they have studied the WBSC Articles and the IOC Charter.

The WBSC is campaigning to have their sports re-entered into the Olympic Programme and this latest episode could prove damaging for their bid.

{jcomments on}

iSportconnect, arthritis the world’s largest private network for sports business professionals, apoplectic has formed a partnership with Sportscrowd, that will see the online community for people working in sports events integrated into the iSportconnect community.

The partnership highlights the continued expansion of iSportconnect and is the latest exciting announcement about new initiatives that will enhance our user’s experience. The agreement means that a specialised Sports Events Professionals sub-community on iSportconnect will be made available to professionals in this sector, so that they can connect.

The two businesses will also share content, with members of Sportscrowd providing Expert Columns to iSportconnect. The partnership will be of great benefit to both iSportconnect and Sportscrowd users, with better accessibility and content.

Sree Varma, CEO and Founder of iSportconnect said: “I am very pleased to announce the integration of Sportscrowd into iSportconnect. At iSportconnect we believe in the value of connecting sports professionals and our community is something that I am extremely proud of. The creation of a Sports Events Professionals sub-community takes this side of the business to a new level.”

Nigel Rushman, Founder of Sportscrowd added: “I am delighted that Sportscrowd is now to become part of the iSportconnect network where it will flourish in a fresh environment, opening up debate, discussion and exchange of opinion to an even wider group.

“I am looking forward to contributing to important Sportscrowd discussions and I will be joined by many other senior industry figures  who are already Sportscrowd members as well as those from the iSportconnect community.”

The Sports Events Professional sub-community is available on iSportconnect here

{jcomments on}