Top Rugby News
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SPOTLIGHT: Round 11 of the 2023/24 United Rugby Championship season is done and dusted and things are starting to heat up with a whopping 12 of the 16 teams still in contention for the play-offs. It’s been an interesting campaign so far in the URC, to say the least, with very little separating many of the teams – as we approach the business end of the season. Read more

The Gallagher Premiership club had been tipped to sign Snyman, the Springboks’ double Rugby World Cup winner, after it emerged that his contract at Munster would not be renewed at the end of the 2023/24 season. Johann van Graan was the coach who brought the 29-year-old to Munster in 2020 and the current Bath boss was said to be in pole position to bring Snyman to The Rec once his injury-hit spell in Ireland came to an end. Read more

England outcast Zach Mercer is attracting interest from French Top 14 clubs, but Gloucester are reportedly “asking for a hefty compensation” fee to buy him out of his contract.  Read more
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France's Sevens Journey: From Vancouver 3rd Place Finish to Los Angeles Glory!
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France entered the HSBC Sevens tournament in Los Angeles with high hopes, aiming to build upon their impressive 3rd place finish in Vancouver and secure their first championship title of the season. Led by star player Antoine Dupont, who is widely recognized as the best 15's player in the world, the French team faced immense pressure and expectations. Placed in Pool B alongside the dominant Australian team, France showcased their skills by winning two games and narrowly losing 14-17 to Australia. Despite the setback, they used the defeat as a learning opportunity and bounced back to secure victories against the USA, Ireland, and Great Britain, ultimately claiming their well-deserved first tournament victory of the season.
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Player Of The Week: Antoine Dupont
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Settling into Sevens: The best 15's player in the world, Antoine Dupont, has brought his unparalleled skills and adaptability to the sevens format! 🔥 From pinpoint passes to incredible offloads, Dupont's playmaking and dynamic style shone through during France's game this past weekend, making him the catalyst that propelled France forward to their first competition win this season! With his exceptional contributions, Dupont has proven to be a game-changer and could be a key figure in their pursuit of winning gold at this year's Olympics. Keep an eye on this rugby superstar as he leads his team to greatness!

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The Benchmarkers Podcast : Ep. 25 - Can England stop Ireland at Twickenham?
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The latest episode of The Benchmarkers Podcast is up! Watch as Kumbi previews the upcoming game between England and Ireland.
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Investment Round-up - who's doing what:

• A timeline of Saudi's Arabia's unprecedented sports investments: https://www.espn.com/golf/story/_/id/38162723/saudi-arabia-sports-takeover-line-30-years-making
  
• Share Market News: Toyam Sports Shares Surge Over 3 Percent In Bullish Market: https://www.india.com/business/share-market-news-toyam-sports-shares-surge-over-3-percent-in-bullish-market-check-key-details-here-6757856/
  
• Lesseyton Sport Facility Worth R20 Million Investment Becomes Symbol of Neglect: https://bnnbreaking.com/politics/eastern-capes-r20m-lesseyton-sport-facility-lies-unused-igniting-outcry
  
• ATP Tour partners with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund as country continues to invest in sport: https://keyt.com/sports/national-sports/cnn-sports/2024/02/29/atp-tour-partners-with-saudi-arabias-public-investment-fund-as-country-continues-to-invest-in-sport/
  
• Coe: World Athletics holding talks with global investment funds: https://www.sportbusiness.com/news/coe-world-athletics-holding-talks-with-global-investment-funds/
  
• Messi deal puts Inter Miami out in front of MLS shirt sponsorship market: https://sponsorship.sportbusiness.com/2024/03/messi-deal-puts-inter-miami-out-in-front-of-mls-shirt-sponsorship-market/
  
• Serie A agrees five-year renewal to ISG virtual advertising contract: https://sponsorship.sportbusiness.com/news/serie-a-agrees-five-year-renewal-to-isg-virtual-advertising-contract/
  
• Broncos' Browning headlines new investment platform for fans to buy stock in their favorite players: https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/broncos-browning-headlines-new-investment-platform-fans-buy-107700182
  
• Celtics co-owner: Explosion of streaming and new technologies changed investments in sports: https://www.cnbc.com/video/2024/03/01/celtics-co-owner-explosion-of-streaming-and-new-technologies-changed-investments-in-sports.html