Premiership boss leaving for CVC and what it could mean for the league
Since the news broke that CVC Capital Partners would be investing over £200m for a 27% stake in Premiership Rugby, rumours have been rife about what it might mean for the competition.
CVC’s track record in sport is one of commercial success, as exhibited by their involvement with Formula 1 most recently, but has also caused its fair share of controversy, not least for allegations centred around former F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone and concerns over the sporting value of the product they managed.
It seems as if the first domino to fall in CVC’s involvement in the Premiership is that of CEO Mark McCafferty, who will be leaving his role at the end of the season and is set to become an advisor to CVC. The man tasked with succeeding McCafferty is Darren Childs, the former CEO of UKTV, Britain’s biggest multi-channel broadcaster.
Ian Ritchie, Chairman of Premiership Rugby, said, “Mark has played a pivotal leadership role in the development of Premiership Rugby since 2005. The growth of the Club game in England and Europe during that time has been tremendous.”
He added, “As the game evolves under new ownership, we are excited about the expertise and insight that Darren will bring from his experience leading fast-growing media businesses. The Board looks forward to working with Darren to further develop the Premiership Rugby brand, product, digital and media execution.”
Childs has an extensive background in the media industry, not only enjoying significant success in his current role with UKTV, which includes increasing its revenue by 66% and almost tripling the group’s profits, but he has also worked with media giants such as MTV, HBO and the BBC. His hiring is clearly aligned with the Premiership’s goals of becoming a more commercially-appealing entity, something which they have cited as one of the key reasons behind their decision to accept the investment from CVC.
Speaking on his new position, Childs said, “I am excited about the challenge that working in a new industry brings, especially one on the cusp of a transformation like rugby. I have always admired the values rugby demonstrates on the pitch and in the community and it will be a fantastic opportunity to work with the clubs and the board to create even more fans of the sport. Premiership Rugby and European Professional Club Rugby are full of thrills and the future will certainly provide many more.”
McCafferty’s move to CVC should also bring the two bodies into an even closer relationship, as not only will McCafferty work as an advisor to CVC, he will also retain his position representing the clubs on the Professional Game Board. The PGB is made up of representatives from the RFU, Premiership Rugby, the Championship clubs and the Rugby Players’ Association, and is tasked with monitoring and managing all aspects of the professional game in England. He currently sits on the board alongside Ian Ritchie and Bruce Craig, as part of the Premiership’s representation.
By retaining his spot on the PGB, McCafferty brings a direct link to CVC to the group, with the private equity firm having also expressed interest in the RFU and Six Nations in recent months.
McCafferty said, “Gallagher Premiership Rugby has become a brilliant and captivating competition for our fans, as the closeness of this season fully demonstrates, and it does what we believe professional sport should always do – demand excellence, create intense rivalry but mutual respect, and inspire people of all ages to become part of it. I am looking forward to ensuring an effective transition with Darren and to my continued involvement in rugby, working from a new vantage point alongside CVC.”
During McCafferty’s time as CEO of Premiership Rugby, the competition has vastly increased its revenue from TV deals, negotiated a new title sponsorship with US insurance giants Gallagher, brokered two agreements between the Premiership and the RFU and helped establish the PGB, upon which he now sits.
Formula 1’s profits shot up under CVC’s stewardship and the organisation, which CVC bought a majority stake in for £1.4b, was valued at £8b when they sold up in 2016. For all the commercial value that was added, however, criticism that the product became poorer during that time has been rife over the last few years, not to mention a dramatically falling viewership due to the decision to move the sport of a free-to-air coverage.
Today’s announcement is another step towards a closer working relationship between CVC and the Premiership, something which should excite and concern fans at the same time.
CVC won’t be afraid of cracking some eggs to make an omelette and, as a private equity firm, are in this venture, first and foremost, to make money. The silver lining to this for the Premiership clubs is that their latest financial reports show they are certainly in need of some extra revenue. It seems as if the two entities’ interests are certainly in alignment at this point in time.
Watch: Saracens and Billy Vunipola both issue statements on the player’s recent social media controversy
Comments on RugbyPass
“Shock”, the guy was casually saying he was just slightly surprised. Nowadays if you say anything it gets taken completely out of context. Calm down everyone.
154 Go to commentsAll I can say after reading this bitter, sour, sad piece is… Thank you very much! This will be read in the change room just before kick off on 31 August…
171 Go to commentsLook, we know contradicting opinions and wacky comments bring readers and clicks, so well done to RP for allowing always-wrong-Ben to say something here. However RP needs to put a disclaimer next to his comments for their own credibility. NZ was and is incapable of acknowledging their opp beating them. They refused so with Ire and with Arg in 2022 and also the Boks in 2023 x 2. Nothing Ben says here holds water, NZ attacked backwards, except when Kolisi and Kolbe was off And cyncialy took out Bongi, we played without lineouts for 75mins. Kolisi and Kurt-Lee almost scored twice. Thats 3 vs 2 for Boks, but the Boks opportunities was legal. Boks should have been 16-3 up by half time. Tacticaly the Boks attacked better defended better scrummed better (without a hooker) kicked better and crossed the whitewash more times. Boks beat Fr Eng Nz to win in 23, comeon give some credit at least. Even Federer Verstappen NY Mets, Mamoa, was able to see a great human sport achievement by the Boks and their DNA Boks #RWC27 !🏉
171 Go to commentsForget the 85kg bit, that can become something else. However I do like the one off test on ANZAC day idea. SR plays Fri/ Sat, test players travel Sunday and the squads have the full week together before playing Saturday. Rest of SR has a week off. Either involve women's teams in same location or in the other country and rotate annually. Herbert is right in that change is needed.
3 Go to commentsI’ve read loads of nonsense before but this article takes the cake. Or perhaps someone changed the date for April Fool's Day.
3 Go to commentsReally Rugbypass? Ben Smith I think you forgot what the Springboks did to the All Blacks at Twickenham 8 weeks earlier? Springboks 35 All Blacks 7. There is alot of ifs and buts in your article. The All Blacks threw the sink at the Springboks and unfortunately they were not good enough regardless if they played with 14 men or not. It was the Springboks who forced the All Blacks to make mistakes! Sorry but not Sorry the Springboks is the best ever Rugby World Cup Nation in the world. 4 Cups baby!
171 Go to commentsYou just backed the Boks with that fantastic review! Well done! Have some cake!
171 Go to commentsBen Smith please write up something better than this. The Springboks would have won the world cup if you were 15 men on the field. They would have found a way, they always find a way to beat the All Blacks.
171 Go to commentsWow, there is a lot of “could have” and “ should have” in this waist of time dribble. I love the desperation in this story to search for a glimpse at a silver lining. Here are the facts, NZ was a badly coached and undisciplined shadow of their former glory. They never took the lead in a game they were never going to win.
171 Go to commentsGOTTA MAKE ‘THE GEORGE’ HAPPEN!!!! That’s a great idea! A trans Tasman midget battle on ANZAC Day. I don’t think the ABs Wallabies game should be a one off winner takes all though, just the first match with the other two later in the year with the RC. Reason being, no one will ever shut up about how aussies couldn’t win it when it was a 3 match series.
3 Go to comments@Ben smith. Thats knock out rugby. So honeslty who cares?
171 Go to commentsIt will interesting to know which Irish players said that…
2 Go to commentsNaaaww boys will be boys! Now run along ya wee scamp! Don’t let us catch you at again😏
1 Go to commentsGreat to have Ethan Blackadder back in the Crusaders in the last few weeks. One of the best all round loose forwards around. He played so well last week against the Rebels. Fantastic attitude Ethan has and his comments are spot on.
2 Go to commentsThe author is 100% right. The Springboks know that they don't have near the natural attraction, mana, skill and mystic the All Blacks have. So, Chasing the sun 1 & 2 was concocted to overblow the Boks image on the back of a corruptly obtained “win". It's marketing ploy to force the Boks delusion as the World's Best. I guess World Rugby is also not to be believed when it came out with an apology about how the final was officiated. And if the 2023 final such a superb game by the Boks, then the Boks crying about Referee Bryce Lawrence for decades is also deserves a laugh. Chase the sun and get burned like a moth. A very well written literary piece that tore the Boks and Chasing the sun farce to shreds. 🖤All Blacks🏉
171 Go to commentsI’d say France was far more hard done by in the 2011 final than the All Blacks in this game. Joubert simply refused to call a penalty against the All Blacks in the last quarter even directing an All Black to drop a ball he picked up in an offside position rather than penalizing him. This article also totally discounts the efforts of PSTD. Ask Jordie how well he played. Or the backup flank who played hooker for the entire game. Siya was also a brilliant tackle by Richie from scoring a blinder. Pollard was also fantastic. Look I don’t like the boks style but the only thing more questionable than the content of this article is the timing of it. Get over it already
171 Go to commentsDad Marty was also a handy rugby player for Linwood back in the day. Great bloke. Sensational softball career.
2 Go to commentsWhat ifs are always dangerous. If you look at the game before Sam cane got sent of SA was dominating. You could make the argument the going down to 14 men rallied the troops and made them have to play to win which is always dangerous.
171 Go to commentsOmg… you are bruised And battered Benny. Stop crying … the scoreboard speaks. What a pathetic lover you are.. 🤣🤣🤣
171 Go to commentsThis is the single worst piece of journalism I have ever seen since your last one. As a neutral, who really states that there should be an asterisk next to a win? You are an utter embarrassment to real AB fans, journalism and that joke of a house which pays you for this nonsense. Get a life, Ben.
171 Go to comments