Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn eyes expanded role in English rugby

Renowned boxing promoter Eddie Hearn is poised to increase his footprint in English rugby union following a Monaco meeting with Prem bosses. The sports mogul, who runs Matchroom Sport, recently signed high-profile players Finn Russell and Henry Pollock to his stable, marking a significant entry into the sport. His foray into rugby signals a broader ambition to elevate the profile of the game and its athletes on a national stage.

Prem Rugby chief executive Simon Massie-Taylor has backed Hearn's ambitions, describing him as someone who sees rugby on a great trajectory and is eager to agitate for more growth.

"[Matchroom] will be a force for good," Massie-Taylor said. "He sees that rugby is on a great trajectory and he's very pro the Prem. I think his ambition goes beyond just representing top athletes. He doesn't want to be a disruptor. He wants to work with the league, but he definitely wants to agitate for more growth and sees a lot of potential."

Hearn has previously spoken of his desire to "turbo-charge" the profile of rugby union and its players, adding it would be a "stroll in the park" to transform the sport. Massie-Taylor expects Hearn to represent more top stars and potentially help introduce people to the game through events, big games, or commercial partnerships around players across the league.

Prem financial health improves but losses remain

The context for Hearn's potential involvement was set against the release of the Prem's second annual financial monitoring report. Following the demise of London Irish, Wasps, and Worcester, the league has tightened its rules, requiring clubs to be more transparent over their finances. Despite this, the report revealed that all 10 clubs have passed the financial standards for the 2026/2027 season, marking an improvement in the league's overall financial picture. Revenues have increased, and club losses are forecast to reduce by £26.7 million.

However, no club is currently in profit. Newcastle Red Bulls, Exeter Chiefs, and Bath Rugby have secured major external investment over the past 12 months, while Saracens and Sale report the heaviest losses. Massie-Taylor noted that in the next five years, the vast majority of clubs are expected to move into the black, though some may not.

"In the next five years we would expect the vast majority of clubs to move into the black," Massie-Taylor said. "And for those that don't the losses would be relatively marginal. But I think there will be a situation when clubs move into a more sustainable position, there will be a desire to re-invest. So as long as the asset is growing quicker than the aggregate losses, then you have value."

League expansion plans face mixed reactions

The Prem also outlined its strategic plan to increase from 10 to 12 teams by the 2030/31 season. Expression of interests for new entrants is expected to be completed in the coming months. Future entrants must play at least one season in the second-tier Championship and secure a large cash advance—thought to be valued at around £20 million—to purchase a "P-Share", which represents ownership stakes in the clubs.

While the Welsh Rugby Union has approached the Prem about the possibility of Welsh sides joining to form an Anglo-Welsh league, Massie-Taylor emphasized that the priority remains to develop clubs within the English system.

"The assumption when we were doing Project Forge [English rugby's strategic plan] was that we were looking to develop English clubs," he added. "That's where we see a lot of potential, whether that's clubs within the Champ, clubs that maybe are outside the Champ and in the English system elsewhere, and previous clubs [for example a reborn Wasps or London Irish]. So we're putting a lot of resource and attention in developing them. It wasn't a debate at the time around Welsh clubs."

Readers can verify these developments by reading the full article on the BBC Sport website: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/cmrry1rgzd4zo