RFU Joins Forces With Usa Rugby

26 Jul 2015 | tshego

Share on

The Rugby Football Union (RFU) is set to help grow rugby commercially in the United States after becoming a minority shareholder and strategic partner in USA Rugby’s new commercial subsidiary, Rugby International Marketing.

Rugby International Marketing is the new commercial arm of USA Rugby, representing its commercial rights but also exploring new revenue streams to support the development of rugby in the USA.

This includes international events, such as Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018 to be played in the San Francisco Bay Area, sponsorship, digital, and broadcast opportunities.

As part of the deal, the RFU will provide strategic advice on how to develop USA Rugby’s commercial rights. Rugby is now the fastest growing team sport in America with participation numbers in excess of one million.

The RFU’s partnership with Rugby International Marketing follows the Rugby World Cup 2015 IMPACT Legacy Unity project, which has seen the union investing time and resource in developing rugby in 17 countries across Europe in partnership with Rugby Europe, World Rugby and UK Sport.

RFU CEO, Ian Ritchie, said of the partnership: “We have had another record year financially and we anticipate this investment in rugby in the USA will have a beneficial effect on rugby in England, the US and across the world, while not diluting our investment and strategic ambitions for rugby in England.

“The RFU’s financial returns as a partner in RIM will be reinvested back into the game in England. Investing in the world’s largest sporting market makes a great deal of sense and we look forward to working with USA Rugby.”

USA Rugby CEO Nigel Melville added: “We are delighted to have made this mutually beneficial agreement with the RFU. Their expertise and guidance will help to ensure that we further commercially develop rugby in the USA. RIM will help us generate new revenue streams that will support the continued development of the game in the USA.”

The RFU will have no involvement in, or influence over USA Rugby’s governance or structure, and the financial returns for the RFU will be reinvested back into the game in England.