Matchroom's Hearn expected to increase Prem influence

Renowned boxing promoter Eddie Hearn is expected to ramp up his influence in rugby union after meeting with Prem bosses in Monaco last week.

Hearn, who runs Matchroom Sport, has made a foray into rugby by signing high-profile players Finn Russell and Henry Pollock to his stable.

And the sports mogul has been backed to make a big impact in the sport by senior figures in the English game.

"[Matchroom] will be a force for good. [Hearn] sees that rugby is on a great trajectory and he's very pro the Prem," said Prem Rugby chief executive Simon Massie-Taylor.

"I think his ambition goes beyond just representing top athletes.

"He doesn't want to be a disruptor. He wants to work with the league, but he definitely wants to agitate for more growth and sees a lot of potential."

Hearn has spoken previously of his desire to "turbo-charge" the profile of rugby union and its players, adding it would be a "stroll in the park" to transform the sport.

"I'd expect him to represent some more of the top stars in the Prem," said Massie-Taylor.

"And so you start to move into other options, whether that's around events, big games, or something specifically commercial around the players across the league.

"I don't think he's there to buy a rugby club, but he could definitely help introduce people to it and partner with that."

Massie-Taylor was speaking around the release of the Prem's second annual financial monitoring report, which revealed that all 10 clubs have passed the financial standards for the 2026/2027 season.

Following the demise of London Irish, Wasps and Worcester, the Prem has tightened up its rules with clubs now required to be more transparent over the state of their finances.

According to the report the financial picture has improved across the league, with revenues up and club losses forecast to reduce by £26.7m, while Newcastle Red Bulls, Exeter Chiefs and Bath Rugby have all secured major external investment over the past 12 months.

However no club is yet in profit, with Saracens and Sale reporting the heaviest losses.

"In the next five years we would expect the vast majority of clubs to move into the black," said Massie-Taylor.

"And for those that don't the losses would be relatively marginal. But I think there will be a situation when clubs move into a more sustainable position, there will be a desire to re-invest.

"So as long as the asset is growing quicker than the aggregate losses, then you have value."

The report reiterates the plan for the Prem to increase from 10 to 12 teams by the 2030/31 season, with expression of interests to be completed in the coming months.

Massie-Taylor confirmed future entrants to the Prem must play at least one season in the second-tier Champ and would also need a large cash advance to purchase a "P-Share", which is thought to be valued at around £20m.

It's understood the Welsh Rugby Union has approached the Prem about the possibility of Welsh sides joining to form an Anglo-Welsh league, and while not shutting the door completely on the prospect, Massie-Taylor said the priority remains to develop clubs in the English system.

"The assumption when we were doing Project Forge [English rugby's strategic plan] was that we were looking to develop English clubs," he added.

"That's where we see a lot of potential, whether that's clubs within the Champ, clubs that maybe are outside the Champ and in the English system elsewhere, and previous clubs [for example a reborn Wasps or London Irish].

"So we're putting a lot of resource and attention in developing them. It wasn't a debate at the time around Welsh clubs."