Business of Sport
What next for Prem Rugby as it moves to a franchise-style model?
English club rugby takes centre stage in the fifth episode of the Sport, Structured podcast, as former Harlequins CEO Mark Evans joins host James Cooper and regular guests, the ex-Bristol winger Alex Cadwallader, now a Leonard Curtis director, and sports finance expert Prof Rob Wilson.
With the 2026/27 Prem Rugby season just a month away, the discussion focuses on the impending move to an expansion league, as automatic promotion and relegation between Prem and Champ Rugby makes way for a new franchise-style model.
The move has sparked fresh investment in English clubs and boosted hopes that Prem Rugby finances can turn a corner. But will the new structure allow the game to deliver on its potential? How realistic is it that new teams will be added to the league over time? And what will it really take to improve the financial health of top-flight clubs?
The fifth episode of the Sport, Structured podcast, which launches today, examines the opportunities and challenges facing English domestic rugby ahead of the switch to the new structure.
Mark Evans contributes to a lively debate on the podcast with a wealth of experience to share as player, coach and senior executive at several professional clubs.
After playing as a hooker for Saracens across the amateur and professional eras, Mark moved into coaching and went on to serve as the club’s director of rugby.
He then joined Harlequins as CEO in 2000, where he guided the club through a decade of major stadium redevelopment and academy growth, with the Twickenham Stoop expanding to a 15,000 capacity and the club establishing a leading academy structure.
Mark has since held executive roles at NRL club Melbourne Storm, Perth-based rugby union team Western Force, and Super Rugby Pacific club Fijian Drua.
Sport, Structured host James Cooper commented: "Mark is, quite simply, a force of nature and he certainly brought his 'A-game' to the podcast as part of an engaging and informed discussion on the state of rugby union in this country.”
Alex Cadwallader, who represented England at the Under 21 World Cup before going on to become an insolvency practitioner, added: “It was great to hear at firsthand the views of Mark, who has pretty much had every role there is in rugby and has been championing the need for the game to make changes for years.
“I am also pleased to see that Prem Rugby is now adopting a model very similar to the proposals we put forward in our report last year but, as we discuss, more than a new structure will be required to deliver the desired results.”
Prof Rob Wilson, co-author of the annual Leonard Curtis Rugby Finance Report, a professor of applied sport finance and dean of education, faculty and resources at University Campus of Football Business (UCFB), also shared his expertise during the discussion.
“The move towards a franchise-style model gives Prem Rugby an opportunity to reset its economics,” he said. “While greater certainty can attract investment, the Prem must solve the underlying problem it faces, which is covered extensively in our report. Put simply, clubs must become better at turning sporting value into sustainable commercial revenues.”
The fifth Sport, Structured podcast will be available on major streaming platforms including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.
The series is produced in collaboration with a team of broadcast technicians and media students at UCFB in Salford, directed, filmed and edited at its new world-class studio facility.
Fans interested in what goes on off the pitch in this informative podcast series can tune into the first five episodes including the latest one here.
Developed for business leaders across the sports and finance industries, as well as fans, journalists and other stakeholders involved in sport, the podcast series explores why so many clubs and leagues continue to experience financial fragility, blending expert insight with real-world stories and actionable takeaways.
Each episode aims to help listeners understand the complexities of sporting structures and what makes a sustainable model.
Feedback Form
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Donec ultricies consequat.
News and insights
Get in touch
with Leonard Curtis
Forward
with purpose
Leonard Curtis is a trading style of Reach Commercial Finance Limited, registered at Riverside House, Irwell Street, Manchester, M3 5EN. Company Register number is 09056450. Reach Commercial Finance Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, FRN: 753686. Reach Commercial Finance Limited is an authorised credit broker and not a lender. We work with an unrestricted number of lenders to find a potentially suitable arrangement for your consideration. ICO registration ZA069234 and you can check via www.ico.org.uk. We will receive commission from lenders. Different lenders pay different amounts depending on different commission models. For transparency we work with the following commission models: fixed fee, fixed rate of commission, percentage of the amount you borrow and rate for risk (this is based on the risk profile of the business). Further details of the commission model, calculation and amount will be disclosed to you throughout your customer journey. Privacy notice.
Leonard Curtis Legal Limited is a limited company, registered in England and Wales with registered number 09820186. Registered office: Riverside House, Irwell Street, Manchester M3 5EN. Leonard Curtis Legal Limited is registered with the Solicitors Regulation Authority with number 626004.