Shorts: The British & Irish Lions, UK Sport, Hull KR
The British & Irish Lions has partnered with TikTok to make the rugby side more accessible globally.
@rugbynause Let’s talk #britishandirishlions with 11 days to go until they face #lospumas in Dublin 🗣️ #argentinarugby #rugbynause #rugbytok #rugby #rugbyunion ♬ original sound – Rugby Nause
The partnership will celebrate the unique nature of the team, which brings together players from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, through exclusive content, creator storytelling, and behind-the-scenes access throughout the tour shared via #Lions2025.
To begin the partnership, a group of TikTok creators from Ireland and the UK joined the Lions for their match. These creators, including Andrew Nolan aka, The Rugby Nause and Jim Flano, have offered an inside look at the tour from a fresh perspective.
With the Women’s Rugby World Cup approaching in August, this collaboration has also marked a moment to grow the game by spotlighting diverse voices and reaching broader audiences across the UK, Ireland, and beyond.
Shane Whelan, Director of Digital, Marketing & Communications at The British & Irish Lions, said, “We are incredibly excited to partner with TikTok for the upcoming Qatar Airways Lions Men’s Tour to Australia 2025. Both on and off the pitch we have big ambitions and TikTok is a priority platform for us as we look to reach more fans than ever before.
“This partnership forms an integral part of our most-ambitious ever social and content plan for a Lions Tour, so we can’t wait to get things started in Dublin for what promises to be an historic match for the Lions before we fly down under to Australia.”
The UK government has pledged to spend over £900m on major sporting events and grassroots facilities across the country as part of a significant investment.
The funding commitment, outlined in the Spending Review, has been set out by Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy.
More than £500m of the money has been allocated to support the delivery of a pipeline of major international events being held in the UK over the coming years.
These include the men’s and women’s Tour de France Grand Départs in 2027, Men’s UEFA EURO 2028 (alongside Ireland), and the European Athletics Championships 2026 in Birmingham.
These events are expected to deliver significant economic benefits, with EURO 2028 alone projected to generate up to £2.4bn in socio-economic value across the UK.
As part of the funding commitment, the DCMS has stated that a minimum of £400m will also be invested over the next four years into new and upgraded grassroots sports facilities.
Nick Webborn, Chair of UK Sport, said, “We welcome the government’s ongoing commitment to hosting the Tour De France, Tour De France Femmes and Euro 2028. These events have huge potential to drive economic growth, bring people together and inspire the next generation in communities across the UK.
“We believe that live sport is a fundamental part of this country’s social fabric. We are really excited to be working with the government and support their commitment to secure the pipeline of big events beyond 2028 to ensure we can continue to reach, inspire and unite people in every corner of the country.”
Hull Kingston Rovers (Hull KR) have entered into a partnership with NRL side North Queensland Toyota Cowboys to develop on and off field pathways and working groups.
The two clubs have been working together for the past six months to create a partnership that will benefit both sides.
Three virtual cross club working groups are to be established, meeting monthly across first team, academy and commercial areas. The chief executives from both clubs will then meet bi-monthly to review the progress.
As part of the agreement, the two teams, who are both travelling to Las Vegas in early 2026 for the Super League and NRL event, will participate in an opposed training session before the matches at Allegiant Stadium on 28th February 2026. Supporters are encouraged to back their new partner club on the day.
Hull KR Chief Executive, Paul Lakin, said, “This is a fantastic opportunity for us to understand the inner workings of a well resourced NRL club. From first team to off field, there’s so much we can share with each other and learn from.
“Like us, the Cowboys operate slightly outside the traditional ‘bubble’ and place a big emphasis on incremental growth, community development and the matchday experience to grow.”
RBC and Supertri have partnered to bring back RBC Race for the Kids Jersey
The event will take place alongside the Supertri League Jersey race, with RBC also serving as community partner for the professional triathlon event.
The Jersey Child Care Trust (JCCT) has been named the official charity partner for Race for the Kids.
Funds raised will support JCCT’s work helping children in Jersey. This partnership combines elite sport with community fundraising, aiming to promote healthier lifestyles and support local children.
Michael D’hulst, Supertri Co-Founder and CEO, said, “This partnership is a perfect match of world-class sport and community purpose. Together, we’re showcasing Jersey on the global stage and creating an inclusive celebration of health, impact, and fun for everyone.”
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