Today’s rugby news: International prop player dies in car crash and fears of big competition emerge

These are your rugby headlines for Tuesday May 7th.

Fears about coverage of the Champions Cup

The Investec Champions Cup could disappear from mainstream television in the UK next season.

The European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR), which organizes the tournament, was unable to agree on a contract extension with current broadcaster TNT Sports, according to the Times. The publication understands tournament bosses have few viable options other than TNT – formerly BT Sport – with sources fearing European rugby could be left “out in the cold” if an agreement is not reached.

TNT currently broadcasts the Gallagher Premiership and will also show the Autumn Nations Test series later this year after Amazon Prime picked up the rights. The Champions Cup final between Leinster and Toulouse will be shown on May 25th, but the current contract with EPCR will then expire.

However, the broadcaster is interested in continuing to broadcast the tournament, but not at a higher price. Other broadcasters including Viaplay – which broadcasts the URC – have smaller budgets, while Sky Sports has restricted its rugby union coverage to summer Tests and Lions tours, meaning other options are limited.

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The Champions Cup represents a financial and logistical challenge for broadcasters, particularly with the addition of teams from South Africa. TNT has commented on games played in South Africa from its studios in London, while high costs meant it did not send expert teams to some games in France this season.

While the format will remain unchanged for at least next season, tournament bosses are also said to be interested in exploring the idea of ​​moving the competition’s semi-final to a neutral city in Europe to create a “rugby festival”. Portugal are said to have expressed interest and reportedly applied to host Benfica’s Estadio da Luz for their final four games at the start of the season.

Prop killed in car accident

Portuguese international Pierre Matheiu-Fernandes has died at the age of 22 after a car accident.

The tight-lipped prop helped his side to their first bronze medal at the Men’s Under-18 Rugby Championship in 2019, scoring three tries during the season. He then became a U20 international before making his senior debut in 2023, when he came on as a substitute against Belgium at the European Rugby Championship and earned his first international cap.

Tragically, this would also be his last international appearance as he was reportedly killed in an accident in Saint-Clair-du-Rhone, near Lyon, at the weekend. Although he played internationally for Portugal, he was born and raised in Clermont before representing Chambery and later rivals CS Vienne.

The Portuguese Rugby Union issued a short statement on its website on Saturday: “It is with great regret that the FPR announces the death of Portugal international Pierre Fernandes following a traffic accident.”

The 22-year-old prop, who currently plays rugby for Vienne, was also an U20 international for Portugal and was runner-up in Europe in 2021. FPR extends its sincere condolences to Pierre’s entire family and thanks them for their contribution to the sport.”

CS Vienne also issued a statement saying: “It is with great sadness and emotion that we inform you of the tragic death of one of our players, Pierre-Mathieu Fernandes, due to a car accident. He was only twenty-two.

“He played as a tighthead prop for our CS Vienne and was known to the Prime Minister. Born and raised in Clermont, he also played for Chambéry. Our thoughts are now with his family, friends and community, as well as his teammates and club staff, as we greet this news with shock.”

RFU have had a wake-up call about the future of the Championship

English second division side Cornish Pirates’ future could be in jeopardy after they confirmed they have only awarded contracts until the end of the current season.

Three English Premiership clubs – London Irish, Wasps and Worcester Warriors – failed at the wall last season, while last year’s championship winners Jersey Reds failed at the wall at the start of this season. The Rugby Football Union has continually cut funding for the Championship, while promotion to the Premier League has been suspended since the 2020/21 season.

Cornish Pirates shareholder Dicky Evans said in a statement that contracts have only been issued for the 2024-25 season and contain a break clause that can be activated in January 2025. Evans also revealed that there are two consortia interested in taking over the club, but are waiting to find out what the RFU’s plans are for the Championship.

“Understandably, new investors need confidence that the RFU supports performance-based funding and will not carve up the rugby market in favor of a handful of Premiership clubs locked in their ivory tower and not allowing Championship clubs through the door,” Evans said.

“These decisions have been delayed again. “As this season draws to a close, I have every confidence that, despite the need to amend their contract terms, players and staff have the reassurance that they are part of Pirates’ future, a future in which we are a proud Cornish Employers and a top-class elite championship club remain.

“One day in my life, a Premiership club. “So it is up to the RFU to create a solid foundation on which new investors in this very famous rugby club can base their financial decisions.” Championship Rugby chairman Simon Halliday also expressed concern about the situation.

“I greatly admire the Cornish Pirates for the honesty of their statement. It reflects the greatest frustration of not just Dicky and the Cornish Pirates board but the Championship as a whole,” Halliday told Telegraph Sport.

“This has to be another wake-up call for the game – we’ve been saying that for months. We do not yet have enough answers to convince potential or current investors that the deal on the table for Championship clubs is a positive outcome for the game as a whole.”

Curry is close to returning after a seven-month break

By PA Sports Staff

England defender Tom Curry has taken a big step forward in his return from serious hip surgery and looks in “great shape” in training, Sale Sharks head coach Alex Sanderson said.

The 25-year-old has not played since England’s bronze final win against Argentina at the Rugby World Cup last year after undergoing surgery for arthritic changes and tears in the labrum and cartilage.

But Sanderson said Curry completed his first high-intensity training session with the rest of the Sale squad this week and emerged victorious among his teammates in a number of areas, an extremely promising sign after months of rehabilitation.

“He came through it well, he communicated really well and implemented standards,” Sanderson said. “We don’t know how he’s going to get through the week. This is his first full week’s training, but we’ll probably have a better idea of ​​how his body feels on Thursday.”

“I’m surprised at how well he moves. He has exceeded (all measures). I know it was just one block, but for someone who was out as long as he was, he came back in great shape. His ability to defend.” That’s what we’re questioning now.

“He moves so well, he speaks so passionately, he is a phenomenal athlete and an outstanding player. Assuming his fitness is right, he’s not far off.”