Crowd Network scores trio of rugby sponsors
Crowd Network has secured Royal London, Mitsubishi Electric, and Funding Circle as sponsors for its For The Love Of Rugby podcast’s coverage of the Women’s Rugby World Cup.
Launched in January 2024, the podcast is presented by a team including Red Roses Sadia Kabeya and Maud Muir, and former England player Shaunagh Brown.
It won the Gold Award for ‘Best Rugby Podcast’ at the 2025 Sports Podcast Awards and has been nominated for ‘Best Sports Podcast’ at the British Podcast Awards.
Coverage of the British and Irish Lions tour achieved 10% follower growth, over 2.3m longform episode streams, and more than 60m social views. The podcast’s coverage of the Guinness Men’s Six Nations also earned more than 54m social media views.
Alongside its rugby content, Crowd Network has expanded its women’s sports offering this year with the launch of podcasts hosted by former Lionesses Jill Scott and Karen Carney, and Olympic cycling champion Emma Finucane.
Steve Jones, Content Director, Crowd Network, said, “As the momentum for women’s sports continue to build, it’s important that investment from brands matches growing fanbases. It happened with the Lionesses’ Euros success in 2022 and 2025, and we’re seeing it again in the Women’s Rugby World Cup. And this is, in part, thanks to brands finally providing the financial support female athletes need and deserve.
“It’s brilliant to work with the likes of Royal London, Mitsubishi Electric, and Funding Circle, that all understand the importance of supporting women’s sports and the media spaces devoted to them. We challenge other businesses to step up to the mark and invest meaningfully in women’s sports, to help them grow even further.”
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