Latest news with #EuropeanProfessionalClubRugby
Al Etihad
2 days ago
- Business
- Al Etihad
Emirates enters pitch to score landmark partnership with European Professional Club Rugby
3 June 2025 15:13 DUBAI (WAM) Emirates on Tuesday unveiled a multi-year partnership with European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR), making it the Premium Partner and Official Airline Partner of the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge partnership with EPCR adds to Emirates' successful and extensive global sponsorship lineup of rugby properties and reinforces its place as one of the premier supporters of high-profile addition of EPCR's Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup to the airline's rugby portfolio will also strategically amplify its presence across the two premier tournaments that showcase elite European and South African clubs, helping connect with over 70 million passionate supporters their joint commitment to rugby's global development and fan engagement, the Emirates-EPCR partnership will seek to enhance the appeal of both tournaments across its global network, in addition to initiatives that support local communities to empower prospective rugby hopefuls and build a future talent airline's newest sponsorship demonstrates its unrivalled dedication to grow and develop the sport at all levels through continuous investment, spanning from grassroots initiatives in its home of the UAE to elite World Rugby competitions, including six consecutive Rugby World Cup Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup tournaments feature 42 clubs from England, France, Georgia, Italy, Ireland, Scotland, South Africa, and Wales – competing each season to clinch the most coveted prize in professional club President & Chief Commercial Officer at Emirates, Adnan Kazim, said, "Emirates is proud of our deep roots in rugby, and partnering with European Professional Club Rugby was a natural next step for us to showcase the brand and drive engagement with loyal fan bases around the world during the most prestigious club competitions. As part of our significant commitment to EPCR, we're also eager to support local initiatives for younger athletes that will make a positive impact both in and out of the pitch.' Chairman of EPCR, Dominic McKay, added, 'All of us at EPCR are delighted Emirates is joining our partnership family as a Premium Partner. Emirates has a long and significant heritage in rugby, and their status and commitment is enhanced by partnering with club rugby's most prestigious tournaments. We're excited to bring the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup to even more audiences around the world through Emirates' showcases. As part of our sustainability strategy, impACT, we are also committed to ensuring the longevity of rugby without negatively impacting the planet, and part of this is supporting more rugby-playing youngsters to develop alongside positive community projects. We are excited to work with Emirates to bring this vision to life.'
BBC News
29-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Bordeaux's Poirot gets two-week ban after Northampton clash
Bordeaux-Begles prop Jefferson Poirot has been given a two-week ban for an altercation with Northampton's Henry Pollock after the Champions Cup was cited for grabbing the throat of the England and Lions flanker as tempers boiled over after the final whistle had blown to confirm his side's 28-20 win at Cardiff's Principality will miss the final two games of Bordeaux's regular organiser European Professional Club Rugby said Poirot "accepted that he had committed an act of foul play that warranted a red card".A statement added: "The independent disciplinary committee upheld the complaint and it determined that the offending was at the low-end of World Rugby's sanctions and four weeks was selected as the appropriate entry point."Taking into account the player's guilty plea, his good disciplinary record and his full co-operation with the disciplinary process, the committee decided to reduce the sanction by the maximum of 50 per cent before imposing a two-week suspension."
Telegraph
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Sam Underhill to miss Bath's treble tilt after four-match ban
Sam Underhill will miss the end of the Premiership season and Bath's tilt at a historic treble after receiving a four-match ban for a dangerous tackle in the Challenge Cup final victory over Lyon. The England flanker, who has been in fine form since returning from injury and suspension, was cited after receiving a yellow card for his shoulder to the head of Lyon full-back Davit Niniashvili in the first half of the 37-12 victory in Cardiff. "You are very, very lucky..." 🗣️ Big moment in the first half as Sam Underhill was issued a yellow card for a head-on-head collision, rather than a straight red 🟨 #ChallengeCupRugby — Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) May 23, 2025 In a hearing on Tuesday, the 28-year-old accepted that he had committed an act of foul play but denied that it met the red-card threshold. The disciplinary panel disagreed, concluding that Underhill had tackled Niniashvili in a 'dangerous manner' and that the collision warranted a red card. The panel adjudged that the offence was at the mid-range of World Rugby's sanctions and that a six-week ban was the appropriate entry point. Two weeks were removed for Underhill's remorse and foul-play acceptance but due to his prior disciplinary record – this is his second ban this season for a dangerous tackle – there was no further mitigation and the final suspension stands at four weeks. European Professional Club Rugby added in its statement that 'the date when Underhill can return to play will be determined once his future playing schedule is confirmed'. Still available for England and Lions While the ban precludes Underhill from any involvement in Bath's hopes of lifting a first Premiership title in 29 years, the flanker could still feature in all of England's Tests against Argentina and the USA this summer and, even, Lions matches in the event of a late call-up. Underhill will certainly miss Bath's trip to Saracens this weekend and their Premiership semi-final at the Rec six days later. Should Bath reach the final, then that would act as the third match of Underhill's ban. An England XV face a France XV at Twickenham a week later and the flanker, technically, will be eligible to play in that match and Telegraph Spor t understands that the Rugby Football Union are expecting that to be included in any ban, as the fourth match, so long as Bath reach the Premiership final. If Bath lose their home semi-final on Friday June 6 then the first Test against Argentina in La Plata on July 5 will be included in Underhill's ban no matter what. Although Bath are not short of quality back-rowers, Underhill's absence will still be keenly felt. Ted Hill and Miles Reid started alongside the flanker on the back row in the victory over Lyon, with Guy Pepper coming off the bench. Underhill missed all of England's Six Nations campaign owing to injury but has returned in characteristic form, earning the player-of-the-match award as Bath defeated Edinburgh in the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup in the Scottish capital.
The Herald Scotland
28-05-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Sam Underhill handed four-match ban for dangerous tackle in Challenge Cup final
The Bath forward received a yellow card from Scottish referee Hollie Davidson, but a complaint was then lodged by match citing commisssioner Philippe Lenne. This is a straight red for me. Sam Underhill can count himself lucky. — Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) May 23, 2025 An independent disciplinary committee imposed the period of suspension, with European Professional Club Rugby stating his return to play date will be determined once his future playing schedule is confirmed. Bath's next fixture is a final game of the regular Premiership season against Saracens on Saturday. That is followed by a play-off on June 6, then the Premiership final eight days later if Bath get there. In terms of Underhill's potential England schedule, there is a non-cap match against France on June 21, with the first Test against Argentina two weeks after that. EPCR said: 'Underhill accepted that he had committed an act of foul play, but did not accept that it warranted a red card. 'The independent disciplinary committee upheld the complaint, finding that Underhill had tackled Davit Niniashvili in a dangerous manner that warranted a red card, and it determined that the offending was at the mid-range of World Rugby's sanctions and six weeks was selected as the appropriate entry point. 'The committee gave the player credit for his remorse and timely acceptance that he had committed an act of foul play. 'But because of his prior disciplinary record, the committee were only able to discount the entry point sanction by two weeks. They therefore imposed a four-week suspension.' Johann van Graan has led Bath to within sight of a trophy treble (Mike Egerton/PA) Underhill received a three-week ban in April after being sent off for a high tackle against Challenge Cup opponents Pau. He is an integral part of the Bath armoury under head of rugby Johann van Graan, and his ban is a major blow for the club. Premiership title success would see them complete an historic trophy treble this season, having already won the Challenge Cup and Premiership Rugby Cup.
Irish Examiner
24-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Rugby's first World Club Cup to be held in 2028
European Professional Club Rugby has announced the first World Club Cup will take place in 2028. A tournament featuring the best club sides from both the northern and southern hemispheres, to be held every four years, has received unanimous backing from all the sport's governing bodies. Sixteen teams will qualify - eight from the Investec Champions Cup and the remainder drawn from Super Rugby Pacific and Japan. EPCR chairman Dominic McKay confirmed before Saturday's Investec Champions Cup final between Northampton and Bordeaux in Cardiff that an idea mooted for "the last two or three years" will now be delivered. McKay said: "We've been trying to work our way through this project to see if we can deliver it. "And over the last few days we've had great meetings with our Board, great meetings with our General Assembly, who represent the three leagues (the TOP14, United Rugby Championship and English Premiership) and stakeholders from seven unions, and everyone is unanimous about wanting to deliver a World Club Cup - through EPCR." The tournament will launch in June 2028, elevating the Champions Cup knock-out rounds to the Rugby World Club Cup and "supercharging" the closing stages of the EPCR Challenge Cup, the EPCR said. McKay added: "The Investec Champions Cup is the greatest club competition in the world, and we're going to continue to protect that, nurture it and develop it further. "We've got some ambitious plans for both the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup, which we'll unveil over the coming weeks. "And, to elevate the whole of professional club rugby, we want to create this World Club Cup proposition in 2028 and 2032 with our friends from the south. "We have these incredible competitions that we own and operate, and we want to find a way to elevate them further and bring in teams from Australia, from New Zealand, from Japan, and we'll do that through the World Club Cup."
