It did not take long. Barely has the lucrative deal with CVC Capital Partners to inject new capital into English club rugby union been signed before renewed efforts to move the goalposts have commenced. Fresh attempts are already being made to suspend relegation from the Premiership this season, the first step towards a very different ball game to the one that exists.
Did anyone seriously imagine CVC would sit on its hands and idly wait for its investment to be repaid? It wants a healthy return and wants it asap. Bang on cue, Formula One’s former ringmaster Bernie Ecclestone popped up with some soothing words in the Mail on Sunday. “If you got hold of the guys and tarted them up, it would be bigger than American football.” Thanks for that, Bernie.
Written by Robert Kitson
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2019/jan/08/rugby-star-trek-mission-nfl-system under the title “Taking rugby into Star Trek territory needs core base to back the mission | Robert Kitson”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
