Category Sports News

England’s Red Roses making a successful defence of their Rugby World Cup title in Australia in 2029 is part of a five-year Rugby Football Union plan to keep growing the women’s game.

John Mitchell’s team, who extended their record winning streak to 33 matches by beating Canada in the Rugby World Cup final last month, have also been set a target of returning a 90% win ratio over the period.

Alex Teasdale, the RFU’s director of the women’s game, said: “The Red Roses have long set the standard for the women’s game, globally – winning trophies, smashing records, and inspiring a new generation of girls to dream bigger.

“But staying at the top means never standing still.”

Last year, the RFU invested £15m into the women’s game, which returned £8m in revenue.

It is hoped that the continued success of the Red Roses, combined with more brand partnerships, can grow revenue to a cumulative total of £60m over the next five years.

The RFU believes the women’s team, who have attracted their own team-specific sponsors in sectors such as electronics, skincare and clothing in recent years, can become profitable by 2030.

It said it would “deliver a performance strategy that ensures the Red Roses remain global leaders”.

The latest action plan, an update of a 2021-2027 strategy, is designed to capitalise on post-World Cup momentum and aims to boost the number of women players and Red Roses fans.

The RFU hopes to increase the number of women’s players registered to a club from 60,000 to 70,000 and grow the Red Roses’ supporter base to three million by 2030.

Teasdale believes that improving a dominant Red Roses team will help other women’s national teams make the case for better funding from their own unions, governments and sponsors.

“The RFU is still the biggest investor in women’s rugby worldwide,” said Teasdale.

“If we don’t continue to build on this success, if the momentum falters, it’s not just a national setback – it risks slowing the growth of the women’s game globally.

England Golf is urging the government to support its bid to host the Solheim Cup for the first time following the recent success of Europe’s Ryder Cup.

Although there are no two contests in England, the competition between the best female golfers from Europe and the United States has only been held once in Scotland and Wales. In Hertfordshire, it will be held at The Grove in 2030, according to a bid put together.

However, the bid must be supported by a sum of $30 million, and there is only $10 million available. The shortfall must be financed by the Treasury, which is urgently needed by England Golf.

According to the bid document, England Golf believes a successful bid “represents enormous value for England” and was spotted by BBC Sport.

Early spring, although negotiations to secure Treasury backing started, it is urgent to get an answer on whether it will be forthcoming. The International Management Group (IMG), which wants a resolution by the end of this month, owns the rights to the 2030 match.

According to England Golf’s CEO, Jeremy Tomlinson, “We think it’s appropriate to bring the Solheim Cup to England at this time,” Tomlinson said on BBC Sport.

“We’ve given so many players over the years, and we’re still doing so,” said Charley (Hull), Georgia (Hall), or Lottie Woad.

We simply believe it would be fantastic to win the Solheim Cup because of the inspirational women we have in golf.

What, however, would the taxpayer gain from this?” The Ryder Cup has just demonstrated the kind of impact that significant golf events can have on a country’s economy as well as its own.

“And that’s certainly what we think can happen from a Solheim Cup perspective, whether it’s just the money that would be spent at the event or the creation of jobs.

“But also the preceding match and the legacy post match. There is an incredible return for hosting an event like this, in our opinion, both regionally and nationally.

Women in sport simply bangs on where they need to be right now, making sure that sport offers men and women the most equitable opportunities.

Tomlinson asserts that the government’s initial discussions were constructive, but that the transition is now in a crucial phase.

The government could really benefit from having a good deal of public support for this, he added, “with a good level of public support here,” he added.

The Grove is close to Watford and is ideally positioned to draw fans from the London catchment area.

The hotel has room amenities that are adequate for hosting an event like the Solheim Cup and has hosted a World Golf Championships tournament.

There is currently a quandary over whether or not the government can support events like this, Tomlinson said, but he did not claim that talks had reached an impasse.

They have demonstrated that they are prepared to put their hands in their pocket for specific events, whether it be from a world athletics perspective or a women’s rugby perspective.

The cost of staging a Ryder Cup in Europe would be more than $ 400 million, but the cost for the women’s version is around $ 30 million.

According to Tomlinson, “we’re looking for around £20 million from the government to underwrite it.”

“And that’s to add to what we’ve already made that is a significant investment, from both the venue and ourselves, and perhaps with additional partners that we want to invest money in.”

We’d like to think that it offers incredible value in comparison to other significant-than-that sports investment, but we don’t need it insignificantly.

To truly advance with our bid and win the Solheim Cup, we need it to be underwritten right away.

He continued, “I believe we would be able to secure the Solheim Cup coming to England if we could receive a positive response within the next month or so.”

The bid doesn’t advance because I don’t have the money at the moment. If I get the thumbs up, it might change tomorrow. “It’s on a tight time frame.

Prior to the last election, the government’s manifesto stated its intention to organize international events, promote healthy living, and find new ways to inspire the next generation of talent.

The Department of Media, Culture and Sport spokesman said: “The UK has a world-leading reputation for hosting major sporting events and we want that to continue.” When BBC Sport inquired about comment, the Treasury responded.

“Staging events on home soil piques people’s imaginations, encourages participation, and boosts local economies.

“We have a strong pipeline of events in the upcoming years, from the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup to the 2035 Fifa Women’s World Cup bid.”

In their decision to rule out Muneeba Ali after Pakistan’s defeat by India at the Women’s World Cup on Sunday, cricket’s lawmakers have explained why the umpires ultimately made the right decision.

After opening pitcher Muneeba was let out by the TV umpire as a throw hit the stumps, Pakistan’s captain Fatima Sana protested.

The Marylebone Cricket Club claims that law is only applicable when a batter is “running or diving,” even though some have cited law 30.1.2 and claimed Muneeba should have been excused for throwing her bat earlier.

The MCC continued, “This law, which was introduced in 2010 and is sometimes referred to as the “bouncing bat law,” is intended to protect a batter who unintentionally loses contact with the ground as they approach the stumps, either with their bat bouncing up or just with both of their feet being airborne as a result of their natural running.

It does not safeguard a batter who is turning for another run, overbalancing, or who simply lifts their bat into the air, as in Muneeba’s case.

In Colombo, Pakistan’s pursuit of 248 reached its fourth over.

Kranti Goud’s ball struck Muneeba on the pad, and as the majority of the India players pleaded for lbw, the left-hander turned and tapped her bat into the crease.

The big screen later displayed the TV umpire’s not-out decision.

However, further replays revealed that Muneeba had lifted her bat in the air when Deepti Sharma’s throw hit the stumps, and that the new out-of-sight decision was displayed on the screen with Muneeba’s feet also out of her ground.

A batter will be run out under the rules of cricket if, “while the ball is in play, he or she is out of his or her ground and his or her wicket is fairly broken by a fielder’s action.”

A batter shall be deemed to be out of his or her ground unless some of his or her person or bat is grounded behind the popping crease at that point, according to Law 30.1.1.

A batter is not out if, according to law 30.1.2, which was passed in 2010 and states that “having grounded some part of his or her person or bat beyond the popping crease, there is a subsequent loss of contact with the ground and any part of his or her person or bat, or between the bat and person.

This has largely been used to cover situations where a batter dives and makes their ground before the bat scuttles into the air as the stumps are broken.

The new independent regulator for English football has appointed David Kogan as its chair.

The Commissioner for Public Appointments conducted a “full inquiry” into the sports media rights executive in April, but it is still up for review.

Kogan revealed that he and Sir Keir Starmer, both of whom are campaigning for the Labour Party’s leadership in 2020, had contributed money to the effort.

Kogan, who did not make the original three-person shortlist, was referred to as the “outstanding candidate” for the position in April, according to Nandy.

The Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee found David Kogan appointable after his scrutiny hearing, according to a spokesperson for the department.

We need a chair in the post and a board for the regulator to continue its work to improve the governance of the national game.

“We are eagerly awaiting the publication of the report and have fully cooperated with the Commissioner of Public Appointments’ inquiry.”

In a pre-appointment hearing, May Kogan claimed that he was being “utterly transparent” by revealing his donations to MPs on the Culture, Media, and Sport Committee (CMS).

Kogan was endorsed by the committee, but it was stated that he must work to “reassure the football community that he will act impartially and in a politically neutral manner.”

Kogan’s past donations to the Labour Party, according to committee chair Dame Caroline Dinenage, will unavoidably raise accusations of political bias in a position where independence is of the essence.

Kogan claimed to have received “very small sums” from Labour MPs and candidates and that he had received thousands of pounds in recent years but that he had “total personal independence from all of them” and that he would pledge “total political impartiality” if appointed.

However, the Conservative Party criticized his appointment, with Stuart Andrew, shadow culture minister, calling it “Labour cronyism.”

The public has a right to know whether the investigation involved a fair and impartial procedure or another instance of political favoritism fabricated as due diligence, he said.

A fan-led review into the game led to the creation of the regulator in March 2024, but it was unsuccessful before a general election was called that year.

The bill was reintroduced by the Labour government in July, and it was signed into law. A body that isn’t tied to the government and football authorities was granted powers by the Football Governance Act.

The regulator will stop clubs from joining breakaway competitions, as opposed to the fan-favorable European Super League proposal from 2021, which was vehemently criticized by fans. It also aims to improve financial sustainability across the football pyramid.

Kogan will also be expected to assist in reaching a new funding agreement between the Premier League and the English Football League (EFL).

Some Conservatives opposed it as it passed through Parliament.

Kogan has worked for major sporting bodies, including the Premier League and the EFL, in senior positions in the television and sports industries over the course of his 45-year career as an executive and in numerous multi-billion dollar TV rights agreements.

He also provided advice for the NFL, Scottish Premier League, Six Nations, and Premier Rugby. He most recently sold the rights to the Woman’s Super League’s broadcasting.

He is the author of three books and former Reuters Television managing director.

He claimed this year that the expansion of the Club World Cup and Champions League “risk factors” for the viability of English football, noting that the expansion of these competitions will affect the amount of money broadcasting companies make.

Kogan also argued that clubs may face legal challenges as a result of the regulator’s significantly expanded authority to evaluate owners and directors, with “much more knowledge and much more ability to intervene.”

Gianni Infantino, the president of Fifa, has repeatedly said that “the world will be welcome” at the men’s World Cup in the summer, which will feature matches from Canada and Mexico.

The Swiss stated earlier this year, “We’ll bring the world to the United States of America.” Whatever some might say, “the world loves America.”

However, more weight is being drawn on whether the USA will be as welcoming as Infantino claims as the tournament draws nearer.

The main host country of the tournament is at a division and disruption as a result of President Donald Trump’s increasing level of political violence, state troops dispatched to major cities, and a more hardline stance on immigration.

More than 4.5 million fans entered a draw last week to win tickets to the next summer’s games, which included a chance to win them.

Fifa’s pricing strategy immediately sparked a significant backlash.

Fans who successfully entered the draw last week spent hours in digital queues online are now listing them online. Fifa has not officially released a full price list.

Tickets for the first game in the United States range from $560 (£417) to $2, 235 (£1, 662). At the last World Cup in Qatar, the opening match was priced between $55 (£41) and $618 (£460).

The cheapest ticket for the 2026 final costs $2, 030 (£1, 510), and the most expensive is $6, 000 (£4, 462). Meanwhile, tickets for Hospitality are not yet available for purchase, but they almost certainly will be significantly more expensive.

Some early-in-the-series tickets to games are available for $60 (£44), but stadium map images indicate that only a small portion of seats are available.

Additionally, according to The Athletic, Fifa will start imposing 15% resale fees on both the seller and the buyer of tickets through its official website.

The BBC posed questions to Fifa, but they did not respond.

The Football Supporters Association’s England Fans’ Embassy, led by Thomas Concannon, said, “These prices are astonishing – $2,030 for the cheapest final ticket is unacceptable.”

“If fans are successful in obtaining a category four ticket from the first game to the last, that could at least cost them $3, 180 (£2, 363). That is more than twice the cost of Qatar.

This will be the most expensive World Cup for match-going fans that we’ve ever seen by a long way, despite expenses for travel and lodging.

Additionally, Fifa is implementing a “dynamic” pricing structure for the tournament, which means that tournament tickets could be significantly increased in later sales periods for matches that are deemed to be in high demand.

While excluding foreign fans, the system has the potential to benefit Americans.

According to Scott Friedman, who founded the Ticket Talk Network in the USA, “dynamic pricing has really been a thing here for more than a decade.” For Fifa, supply and demand are at odds with one another as they strive to maximize their revenue.

The system allows Americans to purchase resale tickets for games with lower demand and less face value 48 hours before a game.

Trump signed a letter urging that “every eligible athlete, official, and fan from all countries around the world would be able to enter the United States without discrimination during his previous term in office when the World Cup bid was accepted.”

Some fans, including those from the UK and the EU, will be able to travel without a visa to the World Cup. Due to the fact that fans will only need to apply through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization, which is typically approved or rejected within 72 hours, because 42 of the country’s regions are included in the US’s Visa Waiver Program.

However, most citizens of most nations, especially those in Asia, Africa, and South America, must apply for visas. Many of them have already secured World Cup qualification or are likely to do so.

The USA did not follow the Russian and Qatar visa fast-track rules that were put in place at the previous two World Cups.

Fans who want to attend games must apply and go through the same line as other Americans who travel there, and they may encounter delays that won’t allow them to obtain a visa before the tournament is over.

The Trump administration has expanded its authority to look into applicants’ social media use and public political statements, and most US visa applications typically require at least one face-to-face interview with an embassy.

As of right now, some nations’ average wait times for an initial tourist visa interview are well past a year.

The State Department made the announcement last week that some embassies would increase their staffing levels in an effort to process applications more quickly, but it hasn’t specified which nations or how many staff members.

Travis Murphy, a former State Department diplomat and founder of Jetr Global Sports, a company that assists foreign athletes with getting US visas, said, “We have a long way to go before we’re ready to welcome the world.”

The current administration has spoken out against restricting travel abroad and putting restrictions on some procedures to make it more difficult.

“The US visa application process hasn’t been very transparent or effective in decades. Regulations haven’t really changed much; how strictly some of the rules are upheld is really what counts.

You also hold the premise that perhaps people aren’t welcome or unsafe here. Although I don’t believe that to be true, I can see why people across the world would think that way.

Trump has deployed National Guard troops in Democrat-dominated cities, including Los Angeles, which will host eight games, and has also increased immigration and customs enforcement (ICE) officers’ orders.

Trump has threatened to have matches canceled from cities he deems “unsafe,” and ICE and National Guard deployments have sparked mass protests from distrustful neighborhoods in some cities.

The Center for Strategic and International Studies, an American think tank, has Daniel Byman as director of the Warfare, Irregular Threats, and Terrorism Program. “There is no question that the divisions in the United States are significant,” he claims. The president or some of his key figures are attempting to push a more polarized agenda on various issues, according to the day. There is a lot of rage.

There are many “we don’t know” solutions for security with the Trump administration because they have little experience with big events.

“There have been cuts at the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI that have been pretty consistent with the government agencies.” That also results in the loss of institutional knowledge as well as people.