Prem Rugby chief Simon Massie-Taylor will embark on a Stateside schmooze next month in a bid to drum up investment into the English game, City AM understands.
The chief executive is set to use the break in play provided by November’s international schedule to head to the United States, just weeks after holding talks with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom about a formal marketing collaboration.
It is understood that Massie-Taylor, the former Rugby Football Union chief commercial officer, will speak to private equity houses and family offices about investing in the seven Prem Rugby teams who are yet to secure big-name backing following stake sales to energy drinks giant Red Bull, British billionaire Sir James Dyson and AFC Bournemouth owner Bill Foley.
He will also meet US banks about potential sponsorship of Prem Rugby, which counts US-headquartered insurance firm Gallagher as its long-standing title partner.
Massie-Taylor is expected to sell the domestic top flight as a stable investment, despite three clubs going under in recent seasons and millions in taxpayer cash being owed to the government after a series of loans kept clubs afloat during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Prem Rugby’s Stateside jaunt
Exeter Chiefs (Foley), Newcastle (Red Bull) and Bath Rugby (Dyson) have seen inward investment over the last two seasons, while current table-toppers Gloucester Rugby are understood to be just months away from joining them in gaining fresh capital.
It is understood Northampton Saints and Leicester Tigers, too, are also subject to investment interest from a number of domestic and overseas suitors.
Prem Rugby’s decision to remove relegation from the league is seen as a key selling point for the league, aligning itself with cricket’s The Hundred and US sports leagues rather than the riskier football pyramid.
Prem Rugby continues this weekend before a four-week break to accommodate the first Nations Championship finals series, which will take place across Europe before a concluding weekend at London’s Allianz Stadium. The development Prem Rugby Cup will take place across England during November.