{"id":293998,"date":"2023-10-07T23:28:40","date_gmt":"2023-10-07T23:28:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/allmysportsnews.com\/?p=293998"},"modified":"2023-10-07T23:28:40","modified_gmt":"2023-10-07T23:28:40","slug":"test-rugby-may-be-on-the-brink-of-a-middle-eastern-takeover","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/allmysportsnews.com\/rugby-union\/test-rugby-may-be-on-the-brink-of-a-middle-eastern-takeover\/","title":{"rendered":"Test rugby may be on the brink of a Middle Eastern takeover"},"content":{"rendered":"
Rugby could be on the brink of a Middle Eastern takeover after the Wallabies and the Springboks were approached about huge investment deals.<\/p>\n
Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund are understood to have expressed an interest in Australian rugby, while Saudi Arabian investors have approached world champions South Africa.<\/p>\n
Both unions have held talks with CVC, who already own stakes in the Six Nations, the Premiership and the United Rugby Championship.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The private equity firm have been keen to grow their multi-million-pound portfolio overseas but no deal has been reached after long-running negotiations.<\/p>\n
Cash from the oil-rich Middle East has been flooding into football, heavyweight boxers Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk signed a contract to fight in Riyadh and Saudi money has divided golf with the establishment of LIV.\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Rugby may be on the cusp of a takeover after Australia were approached by a Qatari party<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
South Africa have also fielded interest from Saudi Arabian investors over a huge potential deal<\/p>\n
Middle Eastern investors considered buying Formula One in a multi-billion pound deal earlier this year.<\/p>\n
Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan told Mail Sport<\/span>: ‘I won’t confirm any specific counterparty discussions but we have had interest from the Middle East.’<\/p>\n South Africa Rugby president Mark Alexander declined to comment.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan has confirmed the interest from the Middle East<\/p>\n