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World Cup winner Mike Tindall has backed Red Bull’s move to buy into English rugby union but wants the sports powerbrokers to avoid constricting the energy drink giants.
Red Bull are reportedly close to agreeing a deal to buy struggling Gallagher Premiership outfit Newcastle Falcons and are in talks with Premiership Rugby Limited (PRL) and shareholders CVC Partners.
It wouldn’t be their first foray into rugby union. From 2020 to 2023 the Austrian company was a Rugby Football Union (RFU) partner.
“It will be great for the game if we can do it,” Tindall told The Good, The Bad and The Rugby podcast. “Red Bull’s frustration in the past and why they’ve pulled out of rugby is their lack of ability to activate their assets.
BAILED OUT
“They didn’t feel that Red Bull were allowed to do what Red Bull do, which is create amazing content in a way that is consumed by the masses. I think that was their frustration.”
Newcastle Falcons are currently bottom of the Premiership with two wins from 17 matches and had to agree a £4million loan with PRL and CVC to continue playing this season.
According to the Leonard Curtis Rugby Finance Report of September 2024, Newcastle closed the 2022/23 financial year with debts of £39.1 million.
It means they have also seen a host of players leave, with captain and number 8 Callum Chick set to join Northampton Saints in the close season.
During Tindall’s time as a player Newcastle were a major force under property developer Sir John Hall.
Since he sold the Falcons, the club have struggled and dropped down to the Championship. Only PRL’s refusal to agree to promotion for the Championship winners has allowed them to remain in the Premiership.
FROM CHAMPIONS TO CHAMPIONSHIP
“You’ve got to change something,” Tindall said. “You have to make a statement and get it done. You don’t want to be Red Bull Falcons and just be the same as now and do the same things. But that’s not what Red Bull do.
“It depends how CVC Partnership works with them, and then there’s all those loans that need paying off. Is it going to be a blueprint for other major brands to come in?”
Red Bull recently partnered with World Rugby as official energy drink partner for HSBC SVNS 2025, stating with the Perth event in January.
They are partnered across multiple sports, while South Africa captain Siya Kolisi, and former England wing Jack Nowell are among their roster of athlete ambassadors.
At the moment Newcastle are one of two Premiership teams covering the whole of the north of England, along with Sale Sharks.
“It is essential that you have some clubs up there,” former France international and podcast guest Ben Kayser said. “When I was in the Premiership (with Leicester Tigers) there was Leeds (Tykes) in 2007-2008 and it is really important to have that spread.
“They’ve done really good things and they’ve shown it. They know their job in terms of marketing and sponsorship and can create some exciting and different out of it. If it as going to be anybody then great, but if it’s them, it’s the icing on the cake.
“I hope in a years’ time we don’t start talking about the salary cap again. It’s going to be a limitation for them to attract new players. Not to have full reign, but to use that financial striking power to create something different.”
