Rugby Finance Report 2026
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An in-depth annual report analysing the financial health of English Prem Rugby clubs.
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The third edition of the annual Leonard Curtis Rugby Finance Report delivers an in-depth assessment of the state of English club rugby following the move to a franchise-style model for Prem Rugby and with new investment coming into the game.
The 2026 edition of the report features a comprehensive overview of the finances of all ten current Prem Rugby clubs, together with analysis of the league’s introduction of a new £5.4m salary floor and an assessment of Red Bull’s takeover of Newcastle.
Also included is a new Digital Footprint Index for Prem Rugby clubs examining the social media and wider digital presence of each team and how it could boost commercial revenues.
In addition, the report takes a look at the evolution of Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR), examines the latest competitive balance trends in both the men’s and women’s game, and includes a focus on sports kit circular ecosystem kitround and its partnership with the London Irish Foundation.
The Leonard Curtis Rugby Finance Report 2026
Leonard Curtis: The rugby connection
This report has been commissioned by Leonard Curtis – a company with 30 years of restructuring and turnaround expertise. A multi-disciplinary professional services group, it has 30 regional offices across the UK and the Channel Islands, and employs over 300 people. The company specialises in restructuring and insolvency, funding and legal services for SMEs, larger corporates and their advisers.
Sitting on the Leonard Curtis board of directors is Alex Cadwallader, a former England U21 rugby union player who played professionally for Bristol, Newport, Newcastle and London Welsh for almost 10 years. Since then, he has made a significant contribution to the growth of Leonard Curtis, especially in the South of England and offshore locations, as a well-respected restructuring adviser.
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Leonard Curtis is a trading style of Reach Commercial Finance Limited, registered at Leonard Curtis House, Elms Square, Bury New Road, Whitefield, M45 7TA. 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: Leonard Curtis House, Elms Square, Bury New Road, Whitefield, M45 7TA. Leonard Curtis Legal Limited is registered with the Solicitors Regulation Authority with number 626004.