Shorts: Scottish Rugby, Southampton, Wigan Warriors
Scottish Rugby has named Alex Williamson as the organisation’s new CEO.
Williamson, who will begin his role at Murrayfield in early 2025, replaces Mark Dodson, after it was announced in January that he would be stepping down from his role, bringing his 13-year tenure to an end.
Williamson, who has served as CEO of Inspiring Learning since 2019, previously held leadership roles at Goodwood Estate and House of Fraser.
During his time at Goodwood, he oversaw major events such as the Goodwood Festival of Speed, Goodwood Revival, and Glorious Goodwood horse racing.
Under his leadership, the estate attracted around one million visitors annually, with revenues doubling during his tenure.
At Inspiring Learning, Williamson has helped deliver more than 500,000 outdoor educational experiences each year across the UK and Asia, with the organisation increasing its revenues by a third despite significant market challenges.
“Sport that brings families together, inspires fans and connects communities in the way Scottish rugby does makes it more important than ever,” Williamson said.
“I see no reason why Scotland cannot continue to be a positive force in the world game and within the wider sporting community. I cannot wait to get to Edinburgh and crack on.”
A life-long rugby fan, Williamson holds a season pass to Murrayfield and regularly attends matches.
Southampton has announced a new partnership with digital marketing and tech provider ThinkEngine.
Serving as the club’s latest Regional Partner, ThinkEngine will lead campaigns to engage fans and bolster regional businesses.
ThinkEngine will also be the match sponsor for Southampton’s home fixture against Aston Villa on 7th December, marking the beginning of this collaboration.
In addition, the company is offering Saints fans who work in or run B2B businesses an exclusive 10% discount on all their services, along with a notable 30% discount on their AI-enabled CRM and ERP software, Cogs!
Greg Baker, Chief Revenue Officer at Southampton FC said, “We share a passion for innovation and digital transformation and are excited to work together to enhance our digital strategies and engage with our fans in creative and impactful ways.”
Rugby league club Wigan Warriors and EFL League One outfit Wigan Athletic have teamed up with Sky and The Brick to launch the first-ever Digital Hub at the Brick Community Stadium.
This initiative is intended to support underserved and underprivileged individuals within the community, particularly those local to the stadium.
According to Wigan Warriors, 14,096 children under 16 in Wigan were living in poverty as of March 2023, and 22.9% of local families had incomes of under 60% of the national average.
The newly refurbished space is fitted with technology and Sky Sports-branded merchandise, and it will serve as a community space where individuals can study, access the internet, and stay connected.
Lisa Nandy, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport & MP for Wigan said, “Sports is an important part of Wigan’s community, and we know this Hub will make the difference in tackling both lack of access to sports and digital inequalities”
Keely Dalfen, CEO of The Brick, added, “Our top priority has always been to support the Wigan community. We wanted to create a space where young people can overcome both social and digital exclusion.
“We believe the Hub will provide the opportunities that every young person deserves.”
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has confirmed the dates and venues for the 2025 domestic cricket finals.
The Kia Oval will host the inaugural Vitality Blast Women’s Finals Day on 27th July.
The Men’s finals day will be played at Edgbaston on 13th September, with the ticket ballot now open for fans seeking the best chance to secure their place.
The One-Day Cup women’s final will be held at the Utilita Bowl on 21st September, coinciding with the men’s final at Trent Bridge on 20th September.
The Vitality Blast Women’s League 2 Finals Day will take place at the County Ground, Northampton on 26th July, and the One-Day Cup Women’s League 2 final will be hosted at Visit Worcestershire New Road on 14th September.
The Disability Premier League final is also set for September.
The ECB Women’s T20 County Cup finals day will at the Cooper Associates County Ground, on 26th May, marking the beginning of the season’s domestic finals.
For fans wanting to attend the 2025 finals, tickets for the One-Day Cup men’s final between Glamorgan and Somerset on 22 September are available.
Both the Vitality Blast Men’s and Women’s Finals Day will be broadcast on Sky Sports and available on BBC Radio.
Team Bath Tennis have signed a new partnership with Asics, which will aim to boost player development.
The deal will see the integration of four Team Bath Tennis’ coaches into the Asics Tennis Academy, joining a global network of tennis professionals sharing expertise in coaching, training and mental wellbeing.
This agreement will also provide education and upskilling opportunities for coaches across the UK. Using the expertise of the Asics Tennis Academy, it aims to support coach development.
Tom Osborne, Head of Club Tennis said, “This partnership, the only one of its kind with ASICS in the UK, will help solidify Team Bath Tennis as a national centre of excellence and provide international recognition.”
The National Lacrosse League (NLL) has announced a new partnership with Manchester-based sportswear brand Castore.
The deal sees Castore become the exclusive on-floor performance apparel and uniform partner to the NLL.
The Castore partnership marks the NLL’s first official uniform-centric commercial rights agreement since Reebok held the on-floor exclusivity for eight years from 2006-2013.
NLL Commissioner Brett Frood, said, “When forging a partnership, it is imperative it is rooted in authenticity and shared goals and values.
“It is difficult to hyperbolize the alignment of the NLL and Castore’s ethos and challenger mentality. Tom and Phil have been relentless in pushing boundaries, amplifying teams and athletes, and creating premium products.
“Together, we are committed to elevating our respective brands to new heights and utilizing this partnership as a laboratory of innovation and disruption.”
Ironman has announced a new date to its 2025 calendar, with its first-ever event in Leeds.
The news means that the north of England will once again host an Ironman-branded full-distance triathlon, giving triathletes the chance to complete the 3.8km swim, 180km bike and 42.2km run and become an Ironman.
Ironman Leeds will take place on Sunday 27th July 2025 and general registration is open from Thursday 26th September.
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