Wasps Group CEO, David Armstrong will be stepping down in June, at the conclusion of the rugby, netball and concert seasons. Deputy chairman, Nick Eastwood will take on the role. Armstrong will remain on the board of Wasps as a non-executive director.

Derek Richardson, Wasps’ chairman, commented:

“David’s impact on Wasps has been huge, from leading the original purchase of the Ricoh Arena and the club’s relocation to Coventry, to the launch of our Retail Bond, the redevelopment of our hotel, developing our new fan base at the Ricoh and the launch of Wasps Netball. On behalf of the board, I would like to thank him for the tremendous impact he has had on the club. He leaves the business and management team well positioned to continue its growth and we will continue to benefit from his expertise as he continues to serve on the board.

“I am delighted that Nick [Eastwood] will be taking on the role of Group CEO. He has been at the heart of the club for the last five years and played a crucial role in its transformation. His experience in rugby, operations, strategy, finance and at Twickenham which is a multi- purpose venue, mean that he is uniquely qualified for the role and I have every confidence in our future under his leadership.”

Nick Eastwood joined Wasps as chief executive in 2012 on the back of a successful 12-year spell with the RFU, where he helped to grow the RFU’s net worth from £35m to £180m and profits from a loss of £5m to profit of £15m, while playing a key role in steering the governing body through an economic downturn.

Premiership Rugby chief executive, Mark McCafferty has discussed the impact and opportunities presented by the new global season at a launch event this week including the shortening of the Lions tour period, a northern hemisphere against southern hemisphere club tournament in June, South African clubs joining the Anglo-Welsh Cup and at the same time protecting the welfare of the players.

The British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand this summer will be the last in its existing six-week format, McCafferty confirmed echoing the stance of his Rugby Football Union counterpart, Ian Ritchie, that the tours must be shortened as part of the new global season that comes into effect in 2020.

The ten-game, six week tour looks likely to be reduced to eight games in five weeks.

“We have been fairly outspoken. At the start of the season we said we were unhappy about the intensity of the schedule that had been signed up several years ago and it needs to change,” McCafferty said.

The Daily Telegraph reported that discussions around an eight-team north versus south tournament that would happen in June every four years in a neutral venue like Dubai or Singapore after the new global schedule has started in 2020 were in early stages.

Mohed Altrad has withdrawn his latest offer to purchase Gloucester Rugby after the PRL rejected his proposals.

The Montpelier president had initially proposed the purchase of a 55% stake, which he scaled down after fears of conflict of interest threatened to obstruct his bid.

At a PRL board meeting on 11 April, the decision was made to restrict Altrad’s investment to 20%, after a narrow vote against a 45% interest. This follows the decision taken by the French LNR in March. With the PRL and LNR votes at the next EPCR board meeting now pre-determined, Mohed Altrad has decided to withdraw from the transaction.

Commenting on these two votes, Mohed Altrad says:

“Whilst this news is extremely disappointing for Gloucester Rugby club and myself, rugby more generally is the biggest loser.

“Our vision was to support an English club, facilitate investment in junior and senior players as well as coaching staff and improve its training and playing facilities.

“The wider benefits were obvious: a stronger club at both English and European level which would have generated more interest in the sport; investment in English qualified players to support the RFU on the international scene and, more widely, a sign to potential investors that European rugby was entrepreneurial, ambitious and open for business.

“Martin St Quinton, chairman of Gloucester Rugby, and I have worked relentlessly to pre-empt and satisfy the concerns of the regulatory bodies, volunteering both Gloucester and Montpellier Rugby clubs to the highest level of transparency and scrutiny.

“Our proposals included very clear “Conflict of Interest” policy, fully auditable by regulatory bodies and with an express acknowledgement of the sanctions for breach. I staked my personal reputation and that of my global Group, Altrad, to respecting these standards of integrity.

“Having initially proposed a 55% investment, we were pushed hard to come down to an interest below 50%. I respected the guidance given and proposed a 45% stake in Gloucester, with even further commitments. I have still not received any substantive reasons why our safeguards were insufficient, beyond a sense of general discomfort with dual interests.

“Despite this it is clear that I would be limited to 20%. What some people don’t seem to understand is that a 20% interest is no different from 45% from the point of view of control, influence and integrity. It demonstrates an apparent desire from certain stakeholders to prevent this transaction for no more than personal and self-preservation reasons.

“We have received some strong support from many decision-makers but unfortunately not enough. It is ironic and regrettable that whilst we have been fully engaged in a transparent process with sporting integrity at the centre of our proposals, the same cannot be said for the final decisions of LNR and PRL.

Gloucester Rugby chairman Martin St Quinton added:

“After many months of work and negotiations, we are understandably disappointed that matters have concluded this way and we fully understand Mohed Altrad’s disappointment.

“It has been a frustrating process for him and ourselves at Gloucester Rugby. We worked tirelessly together to try and overcome all the obstacles put in our way. Sadly, the matter was ultimately taken out of our hands, other parties decreed that it was not meant to be.

“However, we now move forward as a Club with much to look forward to this season and beyond, including a European semi-final this weekend and then the push for Champions Cup qualification.

“On behalf of Gloucester Rugby, we would like to thank Mr Altrad for his interest in the club. It speaks volumes of how well we are viewed externally that he was so interested in investing in us”

We firmly believe that we have an exciting future ahead of us and whilst we naturally would have welcomed Mr Altrad’s investment in to the English game, we are on a solid footing moving forward and look forward to finishing this season strongly and have a lot to look forward to next season and beyond”

Bath Rugby has reported increased turnover and a reduction in net loss for the 2015/16 financial year, as the club moves closer to its goal of becoming self-sustainable.

The results for the year ending 30th June 2016 show a 15% growth in turnover to £16.9m (2015: £14.6m), and a 33% reduction in net loss for the financial year to £1.2m (2015: £1.8m), despite significant investment primarily in the playing squad.

The club claimed that improved financial performance will continue in the year to 30th June 2017, supporting investment particularly in the rugby department, as the club pursues its ambitions of delivering success on the pitch, whilst also becoming self-sustainable over the medium term.

Tarquin McDonald, managing director of Bath Rugby, said: “Whilst the performances on the pitch in the 2015/16 season were disappointing for the club and our supporters, we have continued to invest in the rugby department and this season we are competing for honours in both the domestic and European competitions.

“From a business perspective, in 2015/16 we were delighted to extend a number of key partnerships including Dyson. An improvement in corporate partnership and hospitality income was one of a number of factors delivering improved business performance in the year, and the hard work of everyone involved with the club has meant that there will be another step forward in 2016/17.

“Our fundamental ambition remains to be successful at the highest levels of domestic and European rugby over the long-term. We will continue to invest in the playing and support staff required to enable us to fulfil that ambition.

Rugby Expo has today confirmed its renewed partnership with the Association of Rugby Agents (ARA) and Agents Review Board (ARB), which will see the Home Unions Agents Annual Seminar held at the event for the third year running.

Today’s announcement also confirms the ongoing support to Rugby Expo from the RFU who, alongside the WRU, IRFU, RPA, IRUPA, Premiership Rugby and English Championship, work in partnership with the ARA to deliver the seminar. Continuing the longstanding partnership with Rugby Expo, the RFU will work closely with the event for 2016 ahead of its debut at the Ricoh Arena on 03-04 November.

The Annual Seminar, which brings together all registered agents and wider stakeholders responsible for the management and wellbeing of professional rugby players, will take place on the morning of the professional game-focused day one of Rugby Expo (03 November); all attendees will then be given full access to both days of the event.

Commenting on today’s announcement, Jonathan Wilson, Rugby Expo event director, said: “We are delighted to renew our partnership with the ARA; the annual seminar is a key date in the organisation’s calendar and is attended by all registered agents and board members as well as other rugby stakeholders.

“It is the third year that Rugby Expo will have all registered players’ agents in attendance and the ARB’s decision to move its seminar to the Ricoh Arena demonstrates the strength and value of the partnership. The opportunity for our event’s exhibitors and delegates to meet and engage with the individuals and companies that work closely with the sport’s professionals is another reason why Rugby Expo maintains its position as the meeting place for those in the sport of club rugby.”

Rob Andrew MBE, professional rugby director at the RFU, said: “This will be the third year that we have hosted the Agents Seminar at Rugby Expo and the move to the Ricoh Arena provides us with a great opportunity to deliver the event at another fantastic venue, and one that is so easily accessible for our members and stakeholders.

“The Agents Seminar continues to provide an ideal platform for bringing together agents, clubs, home unions and stakeholders in a forum designed to focus on the business and development of rugby; education, communication and awareness of important issues is the key to the success of our sport and the presence of the Agents Seminar at Rugby Expo provides a great forum for facilitating this.”

Mark Spoors, ARA chairman, added: “We have had fantastic feedback from our members following last year’s Agents Seminar at Rugby Expo so it is great to be able to confirm our partnership again with the 2016 event. The Ricoh Arena is ideally-located in the centre of the country and a fantastic venue for us to invite our members and wider stakeholders to.

“Rugby Expo continues to provide our members with a wealth of information and contacts within rugby and the wider sports industry and it is a fantastic way for us to help to maximise their ARA membership further.”

For more information on attending Rugby Expo, contact Jenny Forbes, head of business development, at jenny@rugbyexpo.com or on +44 (0) 843 289 0583.

Alternatively click here to register your interest.