Shorts: PTO, Rugby Union, MSQ Sport + Entertainment

The Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO) has appointed Stuart Ramsey as its first Chief Commercial Officer, following his tenure at the RFU.

Ramsey, who will begin his role in April after the season-opening T100 event in Singapore, has previously worked at The FA, Southampton Football Club, the British Olympic Association, and Socios.com.

At the RFU, he was instrumental in securing a £100m naming rights deal for Allianz Stadium in Twickenham and recently led a partnership agreement between England’s rugby teams and Apple.

His appointment follows that of Kerry Taylor as Chief Marketing Officer, as PTO continues to expand its leadership team.

“Triathlon is a personal passion of mine and to be part of its growth journey to take it mainstream is hugely exciting.

“The opportunity for professional and amateur athletes, sports fans and organisations to unlock value from triathlon as well as endurance sports at scale is something the PTO has in its sights following a first season of the T100 series which has made impressive strides.” said Ramsey.

PTO’s T100 events have attracted growing interest from commercial partners and broader audiences, with the 2024 season hosting over 20,000 amateur participants. The series has also been shortlisted for Best Newcomer and Tech in Sport at the 2025 Sports Industry Awards.

The Rugby Players Association (RPA), Rugby Football Union (RFU), Restart, and Premiership Rugby have launched the Elite Player Support Fund.

This initiative follows the Men’s Professional Game Partnership at the start of the season, aims to support elite players during and after their careers.

The fund, administered by Restart and financed by the RFU and Premiership Rugby, will provide medical treatment for players retired in the last year, mental wellbeing support, and a safety net for players and staff affected by club insolvency.

It is available to current Premiership Rugby club players, England senior men’s and women’s players, and RFU contracted GB7’s players, as well as retired players.

A Grant Review Panel, chaired by Jeremy Beard, Chair of the Restart Board of Trustees, will oversee the fund’s governance.

Restart will continue to support players outside the Elite Player Support Fund’s remit, including PWR players.

Christian Day, General Secretary of the RPA, said, “This initiative reinforces our dedication to supporting players, particularly those transitioning out of the game, by providing enhanced assistance for those facing physical or mental challenges.

“It is a powerful demonstration of the new partnership in action, ensuring that players receive the care and support they deserve both during and beyond their playing careers.”

MSQ Sport + Entertainment has launched a North America division, led by Managing Partners Andrea Nirsimloo and Paul Anastasiadis, as part of its global expansion strategy.

The agency, founded by MSQ alongside sports marketers Steve Martin and Jamie Wynne-Morgan in the UK in June 2024, has established its North America office in New York.

The move extends its presence into the US market, focusing on using sport and entertainment to strengthen brand engagement.

Nirsimloo and Anastasiadis bring over 35 years of combined experience across sports marketing, earned media, creative production, and digital strategy. They have worked on marketing and communications initiatives for brands including adidas, Oakley, Unilever, Anheuser-Busch, The New York Times, Red Bull, William Grant & Sons, and Coca-Cola.

Peter Reid, Global CEO of MSQ Partners, said, “We’ve seen incredible momentum from MSQ Sport + Entertainment with Jamie and Steve at the helm and I’m delighted that North America is next on their list. With the launch of Amsterdam earlier this month and the addition of leaders like Paul and Andrea, we are well positioned to answer the unique needs of our clients across a variety of sectors.”

Playtomic, the sports platform, has secured $70 million in funding to accelerate its global expansion.

The investment will primarily focus on growing its presence in the U.S. market, alongside continued development in technology and product offerings.

The funding is set to enable Playtomic to expand into key markets including the U.S., UK, Germany, and APAC regions. The company will also invest in enhancing its club management solutions and improving the player experience on its platform.

Surrey County Cricket Club have agreed a three-year extension to their partnership with SSE Energy Solutions.

The agreement will see the business energy firm support the cricket club’s journey to net zero and its ambition to make The Kia Oval the most sustainable cricket ground in the world.

As part of the extended partnership, the Oval One stand will be renamed the SSE Energy Solutions Stand. The SSE Energy Solutions logo will also feature on the playing trousers of Surrey’s new women’s team. SSE Energy Solutions will undertake an energy audit and explore renewable energy options at The Kia Oval.

The cricket club aims to cut carbon emissions by 80% by 2030. Surrey County Cricket Club has signed up to the UN Sport for Climate Action Framework and received Platinum certification for sustainable operations by Greengage.

British cycling team INEOS Grenadiers have announced a partnership with sports marketing agency SPORTFIVE, who will act as their exclusive sales agency.

The agreement will see SPORTFIVE support INEOS Grenadiers’ commercial strategy, using their global network to find long-term partnership opportunities for the cycling team.

Lee Goldwater, Managing Director, SPORTFIVE UK, said, “This is an incredibly exciting moment for cycling and an unprecedented opportunity for brands to partner with the most successful cycling team of the modern era.”

Emprise Group Limited has enhanced its sports travel portfolio with the acquisition of International Cricket Tours (ICT).

The acquisition aims to expand travel opportunities for sports fans, particularly for cricket and England teams.

Chris Millard, Managing Director, Emprise Group Limited, said, “With over 50 years’ experience in the travel industry, ICT are a superb addition to our family and join with unrivalled expertise and knowledge.”

IFX Payments has been announced as the title sponsor for the 2025 Premier League Pool.

The 2025 Premier League Pool, sponsored by IFX Payments, will take place at the Hills Hotel Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina, from 20th-27th March 2025.

The event will bring its high-intensity round-robin format to Sarajevo for the first time, featuring 16 of the world’s best players.

Simon Hughes, Director of 360 Trading at IFX Payments, said, “We are thrilled to become the title sponsor of Premier League Pool 2025. At IFX Payments, we value excellence and innovation, and this event embodies both, bringing together the best talent in the world for an exhilarating competition.”

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