Shorts: Wasserman, England Golf, Luton

Phoenix Management Group is set to rebrand as ‘Wasserman Cricket’, following its acquisition in October as part of the agency giant’s takeover of CSM Sport & Entertainment.

Phoenix founder and Managing Director Neil Fairbrother will continue to lead the division, now serving as its EVP and Managing Executive.

The cricket specialist agency manages some of the biggest names in the sport, including England  stars Ben Stokes, Joe Root and Jos Butler.

Phoenix’s client roster also includes England women’s stars Nat Sciver-Brunt, Alice Capsey and Sophie Eccleston.

Fairbrother said, “Wasserman has long been home to the brightest and best talent in sport, and we’re proud to be leading its entry into cricket, which marks a huge growth opportunity for the entire business.

“Our goal has always been to help our clients reach their full potential, both on and off the pitch. With the launch of Wasserman Cricket, we feel even more empowered to deliver on that promise, and we look forward to seeing what we can achieve together in the future.”  

Wasserman meanwhile manages a number of sports stars, including NBA star Klay Thompson, US women’s football icons Alex Morgan and Megan Rapinoe, Welsh rugby legend Alun Wyn Jones, and Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy.

England Golf has extended its partnership with US golf equipment brand Titleist.

The deal will see Titleist continue as an official partner until 2026 on ‘enhanced terms.’

As per the agreement, Titleist will supply England Golf’s championships team with balls for men’s, women’s and junior events over the next three years and will be on hand at selected championships to provide guidance and support to the country’s amateur golfers through on-site activations.

Additionally, the ball manufacturer will provide The National Golf Centre at Woodhall Spa with range balls as well as balls for England Golf’s national squads for their tournaments in and around Europe and run several prize-themed competitions throughout the term as well as exciting benefits for England Golf members.

Jeremy Tomlinson, England Golf CEO said, “We are delighted to have agreed an extension to our partnership with Titleist as we look to build on the foundations laid in the first three years of our agreement.

“We are grateful to Titleist for their unwavering commitment and dedication to support all levels of the game and we are confident that our partnership will only go from strength to strength in the years to come. This partnership represents just one strand of our multi-faceted commercial platform and with Titleist’s support, we can continue to deliver value to our golfers, counties and clubs as well as support the country’s next generation of elite players.”

Luton Town FC has expanded its partnership with global enterprise SaaS platform Kitman Labs.

The deal will see the Premier League club utilise Kitman Labs’ ‘performance medicine, performance optimization and coaching and development solutions’ which combine medical, performance, coaching and talent development data in a single, integrated platform.

Jared Roberts-Smith, Head of Performance, Luton Town FC, commented, “To be competitive, our data needs to work as hard as our players do.  That means the team needs to be working in one integrated system that provides an accurate, holistic view of each player. 

“Training and treatment decisions can’t be made in a vacuum – we need a single source of truth for staff that provides them with the insights and intelligence necessary to inform tactical and strategic decision-making on and off the pitch.”

Kitman Labs and the Premier League announced the launch of the Football Intelligence Platform for all Academies late last year. 

YRDS has added undefeated cruiserweight boxer Richard Riakporhe to its roster. 

Richard held the British cruiserweight title from 2019 to 2020, and has an undefeated streak of 17 wins, including 13 by knockout. He’s undefeated at 34 years old and has earned himself prestigious titles such as the WBA Intercontinental Championship, British title and the esteemed WBC Silver Championship.   

Richard also set up the Richard Riakporhe Foundation, aimed at ‘educating youth on positive thinking and combatting the perils of knife crime.’ 

Stefan Wesson, YRDS co-founder, said, “Richard is an inspiration to athletes everywhere. His dedication and commitment, both inside and outside the ring, are admirable. As a leader in fashion, culture, and sport, he epitomizes outstanding achievement and innovation.”

Richard, added, “Joining YRDS is an exciting step forward for me. With their support, I’m eager to keep pushing boundaries in boxing and beyond.”. 

This follows other YRDS recent athlete signings of Premier League footballer Neal Maupay and Cruiserweight British Boxer Cheavon Clarke. 

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