Shorts: Champ Rugby, PDC, Wasserman

Champ Rugby has signed a multi-year streaming partnership with Irish broadcast platform Clubber TV.

The deal will see all 182 league games from the 2025-26 season, plus the play-offs, broadcast live for the first time in the competition’s history. The partnership will provide fans with complete access to live match-day coverage and an on-demand game archive.

Clubber TV is an Irish sports streaming platform that is expanding internationally into new sports, including rugby and football. The service will offer a mix of free-to-air games and flexible subscription packages for the competition.

Simon Gillham OBE, Chair of the Champ Rugby Board, stated, “This partnership with Clubber TV marks a significant step forward for Champ Rugby. It gives us a platform to showcase the quality, character, and ambition of the league, while creating new opportunities to engage fans and strengthen club communities.

“It also supports our wider commitment to grow the second tier in a way that’s sustainable, collaborative, and aligned with the long-term interests of the English game. As we continue to build bridges across the rugby landscape, this partnership shows what’s possible when we work together with a shared purpose.”

Haier HVAC Solutions has extended its partnership with the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) until the end of 2026.

The agreement will see Haier HVAC maintain brand visibility at major darts events in the UK and Europe, beginning with the World Grand Prix in Leicester in October 2025. The tournament, featuring the world’s top 32 players, will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. Haier HVAC branding will also feature during the 2026 Premier League, which runs from February to May across 17 nights, and at the World Cup of Darts in Frankfurt, before returning to the World Grand Prix in October 2026.

The renewal follows Haier’s recent sponsorship activity with Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain and the ATP Tour, reflecting its growing investment in European sport.

The PDC continues to attract large audiences both in arenas and through international broadcasts, with darts maintaining strong growth across the UK and globally. Through this agreement, Haier HVAC will continue to expand its presence in front of a UK and European fanbase.

Wasserman has completed the rebranding of CSM Sport & Entertainment’s business units in the Middle East.

The move is the final step in the integration process following Wasserman’s acquisition of CSM in 2023 and the subsequent rebranding of the majority of the business in 2024. The rebrand solidifies Wasserman’s presence in the region, which has more than 300 employees across offices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Qatar, and Riyadh.

CSM has operated in the Middle East for over 30 years. The business now operates under the Wasserman brand with a client list that includes NEOM, Saudia, UAE Team Emirates, Qiddiya, Red Sea Global, G42, Riyadh Air, ADNOC and the Esports World Cup Foundation. The regional leadership team includes Ben Faber, David Sanderson, Mike Davis, Jayne Reader and Aaron Reader.

Casey Wasserman, CEO & Chairman, Wasserman, said, “Our business has remained keenly focused on strategic global growth over the last two decades, and the Middle East is a key component of that expansion.

“Formally establishing a robust presence in this region through CSM’s legacy businesses – and the relationships the team has built in the market – uniquely positions us to deliver even greater impact for existing and future clients around the world.”

Planet Netball has launched a new digital magazine, Courture, which aims to connect the sport with fashion and culture.

The free-to-read publication provides a platform for elite players to gain greater visibility, inviting fans to get to know them through long-form content focused on fashion, culture, and lifestyle. The launch of Courture reflects the organisation’s vision to position netball within global consumer culture.

Each issue will feature one athlete, with South African Protea player, Tarle Mathe, the focus for the inaugural edition. The magazine is available to read for free on the Planet Netball website.

Harriet Millard, Founder of Planet Netball, said, “Since 2010 my mission has been to raise the profile of Netball generally, but the ideology of Courture taps into the concept of individuals as icons, who popularise their sports as a by-product of their own personal brand success. But the likes of Caitlin Clark, Ilona Maher and Leah Williamson didn’t get there alone. Journalists, Photographers Brands and Publications all had a role to play, and this is where Courture comes in. By championing talent in this way, we can help elevate Netball into the wider cultural conversation.”

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