A windfall is headed to Simon Orange and that is very good news for Sale Sharks.
Orange has sold a majority stake in its investment firm, CorpAcq, to TDR Capital in a deal valued at more than £1bn, which will make it one of the richest rugby club owners in the world.
The funds are due to arrive imminently and Orange plan to invest a portion of them in the Premiership club. Orange's wife Michelle works at Sale and is determined to improve the club across the board.
Sale currently play at the Salford Community Stadium, which is owned by Salford City Council and the club is working with them to improve the stadium. They train at Carrington and plans are being drawn up to build a state-of-the-art training centre.
“Michelle is up front, working in the stadium and on the training ground, trying to move things forward,” said Simon, whose brother is take that's Jason says Confidential Rugby. 'In the best case scenario, it will take a couple of years to get all the agreements and planning in place, and then a couple more years to build it. It's not a short-term thing.
'Sale's future was already secured, but this makes it doubly secure. Hopefully it can help us get to the top of the game and stay there for years to come. “We can't spend more on the team because we are already at the salary cap, but we will look to spend it elsewhere.”
Sale Sharks owner Simon Orange is set to receive a huge windfall from the sale of a majority stake in his investment company.
Orange will look to improve the team's facilities in a bid to boost the Premiership side's on-field potential.
Orange have stressed that the money cannot be spent on players but will help Sale compete
Being a northern club, far from the heart of rugby, makes everything more difficult and the influx of cash will be a big boost. Last year, a report predicted that Premiership owners will need to invest £300m over five years just to keep the game afloat. Financial pressure has reduced the salary cap, with the star player allocation reduced to just one, but the Orange will back director of rugby Alex Sanderson to sign any player he wants.
“It would be great for the league to bring in a lot of top players, but we've already lost three clubs and we're trying to make the league commercially viable,” Orange says. “We can't push too much, but personally I wouldn't mind if we could have two top players instead of one.”
“That would just increase everyone's salaries, so it's not good for the league commercially, although it might help engage more fans.” It's a tough question to answer, but the first and most important thing is to protect the league and keep it running. It survives mainly on the generosity of the owners, but that is not a good long-term strategy.
“As for Sale and the playing team, we would absolutely support Alex going out and signing whoever he wanted. We can't at the moment because we already have George Ford as our star man. But if George Ford goes ahead, which eventually could happen, then I would say to Alex: “Go and get whoever you want, whoever is best for the club.”
Sanderson recently signed a new three-year coaching contract. The owners have backed Sanderson to build and lead the team for years to come, but Orange insist they will not stop him from coaching England if the opportunity arises.
And so it could be, given the success Sale have had under him, including in the Champions Cup, where they reached the last 16 for the first time in three years, only to face the toughest task in Europe at the moment: a trip away from home. against the current champion, Toulouse, the first weekend of April.
“We've been in the semi-finals three of the last four years so we want to stay there and of course we want to win the Premiership,” Orange said. “I would also like to win in Europe, but it is difficult to compete with the French and Irish clubs, which have more money and receive government support.
'As owners, what we can do is limited. We work with Alex to recruit the right people and then it's up to Alex and the team to train them. We have a great technical team, so we have high hopes for success.
Its owner suggested to director of rugby Alex Sanderson that he would be the next England coach
“I imagine Alex will be England manager at some point. Obviously we want to keep him, but if he ever got the chance to manage England and wanted to do it, we wouldn't want to stand in his way. Maybe he would come back later… who knows.
“My ideal is to make sure the club is in a strong financial situation, although I'm not sure it ever will be. Financially, rugby is a really bad business at the moment, but in the next 10 years, hopefully until income reaches salaries. Until then, you will need financing.
“Certainly if we can start filling the stadium that would help, but until then it is up to me, Michelle, Ged and Soraya to continue funding the club.” It's in our will, so we hope Sale is well for many years to come, even if we're not around.'
Leicester make more moves mid-season
Leicester have followed up their shock mid-season signing of Newcastle midfielder Adam Radwan with a move for Northampton's European hat-trick hero Tom Seabrook.
Seabrook had been a fringe figure for the Saints but took his chance to impress with a hat-trick against Munster in the Champions Cup and is finalizing terms for a move to Welford Road.
The injury-forced retirements of Anthony Watson and Harry Simmons have freed up space in Leicester's back three, and the club is understood to have paid around £60,000 in compensation to Newcastle for Radwan's early release.
Six Nations return in force to the Eternal City
An improvised operatic performance of nobody sleepsTopless dancers and a Netflix premiere set the tone for the launch of the 2025 Six Nations in Rome.
This year's event, normally held in London, took place in the Italian capital to celebrate 25 years since the azzurri joined the championship.
The Six Nations was launched this week in Rome to celebrate Italy's 25 years in the tournament.
The appropriately dramatic backdrop added some color to the events leading up to next week's opening matches.
At a movie premiere of the first episode of the second season of Six Nations: Full Contact On Monday night, tournament chief executive Tom Harrison said Netflix's review of the 2024 rugby tournament was “an even better series than last year” despite the streaming giant not renewing for a third time as they focus on live sport.
The first episode of the second season focuses on the rivalry between English fly-half pair Marcus Smith and George Ford.
At the press launch the next day, attended by all the team coaches and captains, journalists were greeted by topless dancers dressed in each of the competing nations' colors.
The singers then emerged from the audience to deliver a moving rendition of nobody sleeps.
The Springboks seek to go global with Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola has signed a four-year commercial agreement with South Africa Rugby that will see the branding on the back of the shorts of the men's, women's, 7s and Under 20 teams.
The Springbok jerseys are currently sponsored by MTN Group, Africa's largest mobile network operator, but the deal with the drinks giant is a step towards expanding its global footprint.
Former Wales international Dan Biggar (right) traveled to Monaco to see Villa alongside Prince William.
Springbok couple Ox Nche (pictured right) and Siya Kolisi were in west London to watch Chelsea with rapper Central Cee (left)
The crossover between rugby and football
Rugby stars have rubbed shoulders with the rich and famous in Champions League qualifiers across Europe this week.
Springbok couple Siya Kolisi and Ox Nche have been traveling around the UK to watch Chelsea and Liverpool matches, and Nche posed for photos with British rapper Central Cee.
Dan Biggar was invited to Monaco's match against Aston Villa and spent time with Prince Albert and Prince William, who were supporting the rival teams, in the VIP box.