Prem Rugby to seek investors if RFU backs relegation-free franchise league

Prem Rugby is planning to launch a tender process to secure external investment in the competition after it has received formal approval from the Rugby Football Union to become a closed franchise league, which it expects will happen next year.The English top division engaged the investment bank Raine Group and the accountancy firm Deloitte to conduct a review of the sport’s finances and potential funding options this year, and is preparing to go to market in the second quarter of 2026.The Prem sold 27% of its commercial rights to the private equity firm CVC Capital Partners for around £200m six years ago, and will seek a further cash injection after a turbulent few years that resulted in three of its former clubs – Wasps, London Irish and Worcester Warriors – filing for bankruptcy.The New York-based Raine is understood to have attracted several inquiries from American investors looking to buy into English sport during its review, with interest in rugby expected to grow further before the 2031 World Cup, which will take place in the United States.The Prem has yet to decide whether to sell another stake or take on borrowing, with several different options expected to feature in the tender

Cricket commentator Michael Vaughan says hearing gunshots at Bondi was ‘terrifying’

The former England cricket captain Michael Vaughan has described hearing gunshots during the terrorist attack at a gathering to celebrate the first night of Hanukah at Sydney’s Bondi beach as “terrifying”.Vaughan, who is in Australia working as a media pundit for the Ashes series, said he was locked in a restaurant “a few hundred yards from the attack” with his wife, two daughters, sister-in-law and a friend.A father and son have been identified as the alleged shooters, with authorities confirming the death toll from the massacre targeting the Jewish community has risen to 15, including one child. One of the gunmen was also confirmed dead.Writing in the Telegraph, Vaughan said: “Like most people, I have been at home watching terrorist attacks unfold in London, or Manchester, near where I live

NFL week 15: Chiefs miss playoffs, Rams down Lions and Broncos beat Packers – as it happened

As it stands the postseason looks like this:AFC: 1) Denver 12-2; 2) New England 11-3; 3) Jacksonville 10-4; 4) Pittsburgh 7-6; 5) LA Chargers 10-4; 6) Buffalo 10-4; 7) Houston 9-5. Bubble: Indianapolis 8-6NFC: 1) LA Rams 11-3; 2) Chicago 10-4; 3) Philadelphia 9-5; 4) Tampa Bay 7-7; 5) Seattle 11-3; 6) San Francisco 10-4; 7) Green Bay 9-4-1. Bubble: Detroit 8-6And the Chiefs are eliminated with Patrick Mahomes tearing his ACL. Micah Parsons also appears to have sustained a knee injury for Green Bay who take a big drop to the seventh seed after losing. On that bomb shell, goodnight!(12-2) Denver Broncos 34-26 Green Bay Packers (9-4-1)(11-3) Los Angeles Rams 41-34 Detroit Lions (8-6)(4-10) New Orleans Saints 20-17 Carolina Panthers (7-7)(10-4) San Francisco 49ers 37-24 Tennessee Titans (2-12)(11-3) Seattle Seahawks 18-16 Indianapolis Colts (8-6)Broncos 34-26 Packers, final scoreJayden Reed just can’t make the catch as the ball from Jordan Love is too short

England need to be introduced to concept of consequences after Ashes flops | Mark Ramprakash

There’s always a lot of white noise around an Ashes series but at the moment for England it must be overwhelming, not just given their performances in the first two Tests but because of the mid-tour break they’ve just been on, with assorted media and attention-seekers following them around the beaches of Noosa.I absolutely understand that Brendon McCullum’s priority is to do what he believes is right for the team, but the optics around that trip were not great and many England fans, who have spent their hard-earned money travelling to Australia with little reward so far, will be quick to bring it up if they produce another poor display.Having just been rewarded for their two defeats with a nice few days of Queensland sunshine, it might now be time for the team to be introduced to the concept of consequences. They aren’t something this group have had to deal with for a while. The consistency of selection has been amazing, with players protected as a matter of policy from the threat of losing their place

Hendy hat-trick helps Northampton to Champions Cup stroll against Bulls

On the face of it Northampton are flying in the Champions Cup courtesy of two consecutive bonus points wins. The more pedantic-minded might also point out that both their opponents have fielded below-strength sides, but when the qualifying sums are completed next month that will not be the top line as far as the Saints’ management are concerned.Because regardless of the depth of the resistance they are facing, Northampton are again underlining their ability to pick apart sides who give them too much space and time. On this occasion they rattled up eight tries, including a hat-trick for George Hendy, two for the fit-again Ollie Sleightholme and one for the roaming Henry Pollock, who showed a further glimpse or two of his rare talent.One searing diagonal burst by the 20-year-old England back-rower, stopped only by a tap tackle within sight of the line, was the most obvious retort to the pre-match lip-smacking in South Africa at the prospect of him venturing down a dark alley populated by hard-nosed Afrikaaners unimpressed by his growing international reputation

Ten-try Harlequins cruise to Champions Cup rout of understrength Bayonne

Christmas is a time for giving and Bayonne presented this game to Harlequins by selecting an inexperienced side who realistically stood no chance. Manu Tuilagi and Gareth Anscombe were listed as injured, along with plenty of others, but four frontline players were rested. There was nothing wrong with Bayonne giving Jonah Thompson, a 20-year-old Australian, his professional debut against rugby royalty in south-west London: but the fact he is a flanker, and was pressed into service on the right wing, was arguably pushing it a bit far.The Champions Cup is supposedly an elite competition and that should be celebrated whenever appropriate. But the current format means too many clubs are selecting weakened sides for matches they regard as unwinnable – or rather, when they think others are more winnable