Daily Mail

World Cup to shun private equity funds

- By ALEX BYWATER

RUGBY WORLD CUP bosses have revealed that they will not use private equity investment to bolster the game’s biggest tournament, after the locations for the men’s and women’s World Cups up until 2033 were confirmed earlier this week. Private equity has been a growing force in rugby with CVC Capital Partners owning a 14 per cent stake in the Six Nations. CVC also own shares in the Premiershi­p and the United Rugby Championsh­ip, while rivals Silver Lake are a growing force in the southern hemisphere. World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin said he had considered private equity but opted against such a move. ‘We have looked really hard at that in the last 12 to 18 months,’ said Gilpin. ‘We can achieve the type of ambition we are talking about without that. ‘Do we want to see more investment in the sport? Yes. If some is coming from private investment that is fine as long as the sport is benefittin­g.’ World Rugby hope they can raise ticket sales revenue of $1billion at both the men’s World Cup in 2027 and 2031.

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