Shorts: Gallagher, MSQ Sport + Entertainment, UNICEF UK
Gallagher has launched the Touchline Academy, a free rugby teaching initiative developed with Premiership Rugby clubs to train 2,000 teachers across UK state schools by 2028.
The programme aims to address declining rugby participation by equipping teachers with the skills and resources needed to deliver rugby lessons, regardless of their prior experience with the sport.
The launch follows recent participation data indicating that only 8% of UK children aged 5–16 played rugby during the 2023/24 school year.
The Touchline Academy forms part of Gallagher’s wider efforts to improve access to rugby in underrepresented communities and builds on the company’s long-standing partnership with Premiership Rugby, including its ongoing delivery of Project Rugby alongside the RFU.
Since 2018, Project Rugby has introduced more than 100,000 young people from ethnically diverse, disabled, or low-income backgrounds to the sport. The Touchline Academy is structured around virtual and in-person training, followed by a six-week lesson plan designed by Premiership Rugby community coaches for teachers to implement within schools.
The programme has received support from Gallagher ambassadors including Bristol Bears and England prop Ellis Genge, and former England footballer Jill Scott.
Ellis Genge said, “I know first-hand how important a teacher can be in steering you onto the right path when you are young and impressionable.
“I could so easily have fallen astray if it wasn’t for the guidance and education that I received from my rugby teachers during my teenage years. Rugby gave me a sense of purpose and I am so grateful for the opportunities it has given me. That is why I’m proud to support the Gallagher Touchline Academy.”
Steph Lund has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of MSQ Sport + Entertainment North America, based in New York.
The appointment completes the executive leadership team for the agency’s North American practice, which launched in March 2025. Lund reunites with former colleagues Paul Anastasiadis and Andrea Nirsimloo, who were announced as Managing Partners upon the agency’s inception.
The trio previously led M&C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment North America before departing earlier this year. Steve Martin, Founding Partner of MSQ Sport + Entertainment, also announced the appointment. Lund will lead the agency’s operations and strategic growth in the region.
Lund brings over 20 years of experience, having served as CEO at M&C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment and previously as SVP at The Fader / Cornerstone.
Steph Lund, Chief Executive Officer, MSQ Sport + Entertainment North America, said, “MSQ shares that passion, demonstrated by their global track record and continued investment into North America.
Our vision is to quickly establish this agency as a destination for specialist creativity in the sport and entertainment space, with bespoke campaign activations that leverage our social, content, experiential and digital expertise.”
The Clipper Race has renewed its team and charity partnership with UNICEF UK for the fifth consecutive edition, extending their collaboration to a decade.
Over the past ten years, Clipper Race crew and supporters have raised £1.6m for UNICEF. The upcoming 2025-26 edition, which starts on 31st August 2025, will see the UNICEF Team yacht, known as the Big Blue Boat, embark on a 40,000 nautical mile circumnavigation.
The race will visit 14 ports, with Portsmouth, Cape Town, Qingdao, Tongyeong City, Seattle, and Oban announced as stopovers.
Funding driven by Clipper Race crew will continue to support UNICEF’s work to help ensure more of the world’s children are vaccinated, educated, and protected.
In the 2023-24 edition, Clipper Race crew and supporters raised £459,653 for UNICEF UK.
Heather McCrea, Head of Partnerships at UNICEF UK, said, “I am delighted to see that the Clipper Race will once again be anchored in child rights, with the UNICEF Team yacht leading fundraising efforts to build on an incredible £1.6m raised for UNICEF over the course of a decade’s partnership.
“UNICEF is funded entirely by voluntary donations, so Clipper Race crew and their networks’ unwavering support means that our work for children can continue to go a long way.
Audi has announced an organisational restructure as it prepares for its Formula 1 debut in 2026.
The restructure includes an expanded role for Mattia Binotto as Head of Audi F1 Project, the appointment of Christian Foyer as Chief Operating Officer, and the departure of Chief Executive Officer Adam Baker.
Binotto, who arrived at the company as Chief Operating and Chief Technical Officer last summer, will now be responsible for development activities at the Hinwil and Neuburg an der Donau facilities, as well as at the future technical centre in England.
Foyer joined the management board of Audi Formula Racing GmbH (AFR), responsible for the F1 hybrid powertrain, on 1st May, with his focus being on operational processes.
The CEO role will now be eliminated as part of the reorganisation.
Stefan Dreyer will continue to head power unit development in Neuburg as CTO and will also take on the new role of spokesperson for the AFR management board.
Gernot Döllner, Chairman of the Board of Management at AUDI AG, said, “With Christian Foyer, we are now bringing a proven expert in process structures in F1 powertrain development into the project. His experience will help ensure the synergistic cooperation and necessary speed on the journey we have embarked upon regarding the debut.”
Onboard Sportswear has extended its agreement with Matchroom to continue as the clothing and merchandise partner of the World Nineball Tour through to January 2026.
The extension has followed an initial partnership that began in 2021, with Onboard Sportswear supporting the development and launch of the World Nineball Tour in 2023.
Under the new terms, Onboard Sportswear will continue supplying merchandise at World Nineball Tour events and through its official online store.
The World Nineball Tour, which has been part of Matchroom’s wider expansion across cue sports, has contributed to renewed interest in nineball competition globally.
The UK has played a central role in the staging and broadcast of World Nineball Tour events, helping to grow the sport’s visibility across new and existing markets.
Emily Frazer, CEO of Matchroom Multi Sport, said, “We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Onboard Sportswear, a company that shares our ambition and vision for the World Nineball Tour.
“We look forward to building further on this success and bringing even more exciting merchandise to fans and players around the world.”
The Sports Consultancy has received the King’s Award for Enterprise in recognition of its international commercial work in sport, events and entertainment.
The Sports Consultancy has been awarded the King’s Award for Enterprise, acknowledging its contributions to international sport and its growing impact across the global events and entertainment sectors.
Founded in London in 2006, the organisation has provided legal, strategic and commercial advisory services to a range of international clients, including FIFA, the NFL and Formula 1. Its recent activity has extended into the Middle East and Asia, building on its established presence in Europe and reflecting the sector’s continued global expansion.
The Sports Consultancy has supported rights holders, governments and cities through services such as host city strategy development, commercial rights management and legacy-focused event planning. The award highlights its role in strengthening the UK’s international profile within the global sports industry.
Angus Buchanan, Managing Director and Co-Founder The Sports Consultancy, said, “We are immensely proud to receive the King’s Award for Enterprise.
“This recognition reflects the passion and rigour our team brings to every project. It’s also a testament to the incredible clients we’re privileged to partner with organisations that share our belief in the power of sport to create lasting impact.”
Hope&Glory has been appointed to lead strategic planning and creative development for Toyota GB PLC.
The agency will work across both the Toyota and Lexus brands in the UK.
Emma Lane, General Manager, Brand Communications Toyota, Lexus and Kinto at Toyota, said, “Hope&Glory stood out in a very competitive pitch process. Impressing us with their strategic vision, thinking, and understanding of our brand, which they combined with some very clever creativity and an ability to shape campaigns that work across our brand and sponsorship platforms and differing audiences and channels. We’re excited to work with them to engage a new audience for both the Toyota and Lexus brands.”
The key sports sponsorship activity for Toyota and Lexus add to Hope&Glory’s work for the likes of The FA, Carlsberg, Pepsi, IHG, VMO2, Peloton and IMG.
Technical production company Tell has announced a new office in Kuwait City.
Just three months after expanding into South East Asia and appointing a new global strategic leadership team, Tell has launched a second international office this time servicing the GCC (the six Arab countries in the Gulf including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.)
The expansion follows successful event delivery at events including the 26th Arabian Gulf Cup, 2024 Emir Cup, 2024 AFC Asian Cup, 2024 AFC Champions League Final, 2025 Kuwait Super Cup and the 2025 Gulf Cup for Veteran Players, 2025 SAFF Women’s Cup and 2025 Arab Handball Championships.
The local team are led by events specialist Hussein Al-Mana, appointed as Managing Partner with a focus on business development in the region, and Mejren Al-Loughani who will run the day-to-day operations of the business.
Creative agency Woven and The Solo House, a premier production company based in Bologna has announced a strategic partnership designed to ‘reshape how brands engage with audiences across sport, fashion, sustainability and design innovation.’
With a footprint that spans Europe and the UK and a network of top-tier creative talent, Woven and The Solo House are positioning themselves as ‘go-to partners for brands seeking a cohesive vision – from strategy to execution’, with a combined team offering ‘a deep well of experience across digital, PR, social, experiential, and content production.’
Between them, Woven and The Solo House have partnered with some of the world’s most influential brands, including Nike, Adidas, Off-White, Palm Angels, Diesel, Armani, C.P. Company, O’Neill and Under Armour.
Richard Glennie, Managing Director of Woven, commented, “Having worked in-house for brands like Nike and agency-side with TBWA and Hill & Knowlton, I know how fragmented the marketing landscape has become. Our partnership is a commitment to independent thinking and an integrated approach – offering clients a seamless alternative to the traditional advertising agency model.”
Andrea Zini, Founder of The Solo House, added, “We bring not just executional muscle, but a creative mindset that’s rooted in deep cultural insight. From bold campaign concepts to data-led strategy and high-impact production, we offer clients a full-service model that’s both agile and global in reach.”
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