{"id":187541,"date":"2026-05-08T21:35:12","date_gmt":"2026-05-08T21:35:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/187541\/"},"modified":"2026-05-08T21:35:12","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T21:35:12","slug":"english-rugby-teams-are-targets-for-investment-by-us-big-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/187541\/","title":{"rendered":"English rugby teams are targets for investment by US big business"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\t\t\t\t\t\tAmerican investment companies are turning their targets toward some of England\u2019s top rugby clubs amid a structural change in the sport that will establish a U.S.-style franchise system where relegation and promotion are scrapped.(Previous video above: Allegheny County plans a bid to host the Rugby World Cup)Exeter Chiefs \u2014 recently an English and European champion \u2014 voted to approve a proposed takeover by Black Knight Sports and Entertainment, an investment group that already counts Premier League team Bournemouth in its expanding portfolio.That development comes days after Cornish Pirates, which plays in English rugby\u2019s second tier, announced a deal with Pittsburgh-based firm Stonewood Capital Management that marked, according to the team, \u201cthe first known U.S. investment into an English professional rugby club.\u201dWith English billionaire James Dyson securing a 50% stake in Bath Rugby in March and energy drink giant Red Bull taking full ownership of Newcastle Falcons last year, money is starting to flood into English rugby after years of financial uncertainty made worse by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.In recent years, Wasps, Worcester Warriors and London Irish have been banished from England\u2019s top league for financial reasons, reducing it to a 10-team competition. The 2023-24 season was the third straight year that no top-tier club made a profit, according to the Leonard Curtis Rugby Finance Report.However, it was announced in February that automatic promotion and relegation between the top two tiers of English rugby would be scrapped and replaced by a criteria-based expansion and demotion model, with a plan to add up to two more clubs to the Prem \u2014 the newly named top league \u2014 in the 2029-30 season.English rugby leaders said this development would \u201ccreate investable, globally competitive leagues,\u201d saying the previous system \u201cwas not delivering financial sustainability (and) discouraging long-term investment.\u201dThere is already huge U.S. investment in English soccer, with Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool among the heavyweight teams with American owners. Wrexham is also co-owned by Hollywood celebrities Rob Mac and Canadian-born Ryan Reynolds.Big-business investors from the United States have also bought stakes in England\u2019s newest cricket competition, The Hundred, over the past year.Bournemouth soccer owners turn to rugbyBlack Knight Sports and Entertainment, which is part of American investment company Cannae Holdings, took full control of Bournemouth in 2022 and the team is currently sixth in the Premier League with a chance of qualifying for next season\u2019s Champions League.The Black Knight consortium, fronted by American businessman Bill Foley, owns the Vegas Golden Knights in the NHL and has other soccer clubs in its portfolio, in Lorient (France), Moreirense FC (Portugal) and Auckland FC (New Zealand).Exeter\u2019s members voted by a majority to permit the sale of the club, which was European champion in 2020 and English champion in 2017 and \u201920, and are expecting an offer to follow from Black Knight after financial checks.The Cornish Pirates said they had positioned themselves \u201cat the forefront of rugby\u2019s globalization\u201d by welcoming U.S. investment, at a time when the country is preparing to host the Rugby World Cup in 2031.Kenn Moritz, one of the investors in Stonewood Capital Management, said the group saw a \u201ccompelling opportunity in Cornish Pirates,\u201d adding: \u201cRugby is entering an exciting global phase, and we believe this investment places us at the heart of that journey.\u201dPittsburgh is among the U.S. cities bidding to host matches at the Rugby World Cup in 2031.___AP Sports Writer Ken Maguire contributed to this story.Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

American investment companies are turning their targets toward some of England\u2019s top rugby clubs amid a structural change in the sport that will establish a U.S.-style franchise system where relegation and promotion are scrapped.<\/p>\n

(Previous video above: Allegheny County plans a bid to host the Rugby World Cup)<\/p>\n

Exeter Chiefs \u2014 recently an English and European champion \u2014 voted to approve a proposed takeover by Black Knight Sports and Entertainment, an investment group that already counts Premier League team Bournemouth in its expanding portfolio.<\/p>\n

That development comes days after Cornish Pirates<\/a>, which plays in English rugby\u2019s second tier, announced a deal with Pittsburgh-based firm Stonewood Capital Management that marked, according to the team, \u201cthe first known U.S. investment into an English professional rugby club.\u201d<\/p>\n

With English billionaire James Dyson securing a 50% stake in Bath Rugby in March and energy drink giant Red Bull taking full ownership of Newcastle Falcons last year, money is starting to flood into English rugby after years of financial uncertainty made worse by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"AMPTHILL,<\/p>\n

\n\t\tHarry Trump\/Getty Images\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAMPTHILL, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 11: Alex Everett of Cornish Pirates breaks with the ball during the Champ Rugby match between Ampthill and Cornish Pirates at Dillingham Park on October 11, 2025 in Ampthill, England. (Photo by Harry Trump\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

In recent years, Wasps, Worcester Warriors and London Irish have been banished from England\u2019s top league for financial reasons, reducing it to a 10-team competition. The 2023-24 season was the third straight year that no top-tier club made a profit, according to the Leonard Curtis Rugby Finance Report<\/a>.<\/p>\n

However, it was announced in February that automatic promotion and relegation between the top two tiers of English rugby would be scrapped and replaced by a criteria-based expansion and demotion model, with a plan to add up to two more clubs to the Prem \u2014 the newly named top league \u2014 in the 2029-30 season.<\/p>\n

English rugby leaders said this development would \u201ccreate investable, globally competitive leagues,\u201d saying the previous system \u201cwas not delivering financial sustainability (and) discouraging long-term investment.\u201d<\/p>\n

There is already huge U.S. investment in English soccer, with Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea<\/a> and Liverpool among the heavyweight teams with American owners. Wrexham<\/a> is also co-owned by Hollywood celebrities Rob Mac and Canadian-born Ryan Reynolds.<\/p>\n

Big-business investors from the United States have also bought stakes in England\u2019s newest cricket competition, The Hundred, over the past year.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"AMPTHILL,<\/p>\n

\n\t\tHarry Trump\/Getty Images\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAMPTHILL, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 11: Dan Hiscocks of Cornish Pirates goes over to score their sides first try during the Champ Rugby match between Ampthill and Cornish Pirates at Dillingham Park on October 11, 2025 in Ampthill, England. (Photo by Harry Trump\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Bournemouth soccer owners turn to rugby<\/p>\n

Black Knight Sports and Entertainment, which is part of American investment company Cannae Holdings, took full control of Bournemouth in 2022 and the team is currently sixth in the Premier League with a chance of qualifying for next season\u2019s Champions League.<\/p>\n

The Black Knight consortium, fronted by American businessman Bill Foley, owns the Vegas Golden Knights in the NHL and has other soccer clubs in its portfolio, in Lorient (France), Moreirense FC (Portugal) and Auckland FC (New Zealand).<\/p>\n

Exeter\u2019s members voted by a majority to permit the sale of the club, which was European champion in 2020 and English champion in 2017 and \u201920, and are expecting an offer to follow from Black Knight after financial checks.<\/p>\n

The Cornish Pirates said they had positioned themselves \u201cat the forefront of rugby\u2019s globalization\u201d by welcoming U.S. investment, at a time when the country is preparing to host the Rugby World Cup in 2031.<\/p>\n

Kenn Moritz, one of the investors in Stonewood Capital Management, said the group saw a \u201ccompelling opportunity in Cornish Pirates,\u201d adding: \u201cRugby is entering an exciting global phase, and we believe this investment places us at the heart of that journey.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pittsburgh is among the U.S. cities bidding to host matches at the Rugby World Cup<\/a> in 2031.<\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

AP Sports Writer Ken Maguire contributed to this story.<\/p>\n

Download the WTAE app<\/a> to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters<\/a> to get breaking news in your inbox.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"American investment companies are turning their targets toward some of England\u2019s top rugby clubs amid a structural change…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":187542,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[83629,83627,83630,83628,83623,38754,83624,83626,1681,1718,83631,73,75,74,46992,46411,3617,76364,83625,78],"class_list":["post-187541","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-pittsburgh","tag-american-investment-company","tag-bath-rugby","tag-black-knight-consortium","tag-black-knight-sports","tag-cornish-pirates","tag-england","tag-english-rugby","tag-english-rugby-team","tag-entertainment","tag-investment","tag-more-club","tag-pittsburgh","tag-pittsburgh-headlines","tag-pittsburgh-news","tag-portfolio","tag-promotion","tag-season","tag-stake","tag-stonewood-capital-management","tag-year"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/187541","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=187541"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/187541\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/187542"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=187541"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=187541"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=187541"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}