- After K-pop, K-novels? South Korean Nobel win sparks joy, hope at home
- After Nadal exit, Djokovic left to rage against dying of the light
- A very stiff breeze: BBC says sorry for 20,000 kph wind forecast
- Triple centurion Brook happy to break Dad's club record
- Zelensky touts 'victory plan' against Russia in Macron talks
- Musk finally unveiling his long-promised robotaxi
- UN peacekeepers accuses Israel of firing on Lebanon HQ
- London's Frieze art fair goes potty for ceramics
- Southgate taking year out from coaching
- US, Europe stocks fall on US inflation data
- Zelensky meets Macron in Paris as part of European tour
- Hurricane Milton shreds Florida stadium roof
- UN probe accuses Israel of seeking to 'destroy' Gaza healthcare
- US consumer inflation eases to 2.4% in September
- England in sight of victory after Brook's triple hundred
- Juventus readmitted to ECA after failed Super League revolt
- World number 2 Alcaraz knocked out of Shanghai Masters by Machac
- Leaders of Egypt, Eritrea, Somalia meet amid regional tensions
- Klopp's Red Bull decision 'ruined life's work' say Dortmund fans
- Han Kang wins South Korea's first literature Nobel
- S. Korea's Nobel winner Han Kang a modest, thought-provoking writer
- Hurricane Milton tornadoes kill four in Florida amid rescue efforts
- The almost impossible job: Beating Rafael Nadal at the French Open
- New French government faces key test with budget plan
- Rescuers say Israeli strike on Gaza school kills 28
- Italy's ex-world champion gymnast Ferrari announces retirement
- Zelensky talks 'victory plan' in meeting with Starmer, Rutte
- South Korea's Han Kang wins literature Nobel
- Federer lauds retiring Nadal's 'incredible achievements'
- Ikea posts fall in annual sales after lowering prices
- Australia beat China 3-1 to resurrect World Cup campaign
- Stock markets diverge, oil gains after China rebounds
- Nadal defied injury woes in record-breaking career
- Nadal v Djokovic, French Open, 2006: Chapter One in epic rivalry
- World can't 'waste time' trading climate change blame: COP29 hosts
- Pakistan at 23-1 after Brook triple hundred takes England to 823-7
- Zelensky meets Starmer, Rutte on whirlwind tour of Europe
- South Korean same-sex couples make push for marriage equality
- Rafael Nadal calls time on epic tennis career
- Mumbai declares day of mourning for Indian industrialist Ratan Tata
- Philippines confronts China over South China Sea at ASEAN meet
- Kim Sei-young shoots 62 to take two-stroke lead at LPGA Shanghai
- The haircuts that help traumatised Ukrainian soldiers heal
- Sinner crushes Medvedev to set up potential Alcaraz Shanghai semi
- 7-Eleven owner restructures to fight takeover
- England's Harry Brook blasts triple century against Pakistan
- Chinese electric car companies cope with European tariffs
- Zelensky in London for whirlwind tour of Europe ahead of US vote
- Sri Lanka recovering faster than expected: World Bank
- Hong Kong, Shanghai rally as most markets track Wall St record
English rugby chief denies 'sell-out' over renaming of Twickenham
The chief executive of the Rugby Football Union (RFU) is adamant the English governing body has not "sold out" by renaming its Twickenham headquarters the Allianz Stadium in a deal worth more than £100 million ($127 million, 116 million euros).
Twickenham, situated in the southwest district of greater London from which it takes its name, has been the home of the England men's rugby union team for over a hundred years.
But from September the 82,000-seater ground will be known officially as the Allianz Stadium following a deal with the Germany-based multinational insurance company.
The failure to even include 'Twickenham' in the new title, along the lines of other sponsorship agreements such as the Emirates Old Trafford cricket ground in Manchester, has angered many rugby traditionalists.
But with Twickenham also playing host to women's and domestic rugby games, as well as pop concerts, RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney told the BBC on Tuesday: "I really don't believe we've sold out.
"It's an iconic stadium, it's the home of rugby, experiences here are incredible, people love coming here."
But with the RFU having forecast a loss of over £40 million for the 2023/24 financial year, there is no doubt English rugby union could benefit from a significant cash injection.
The naming rights deal comes with English rugby still reeling from the financial collapse of three Premiership clubs -- Wasps, Worcester and London Irish during the 2022/23 top-flight campaign.
- 'Legacy' -
"We believe this will help us build on the legacy of the stadium," said Sweeney.
"This will take us into the future, into decades from here and the investment from Allianz will enable us to make Twickenham an even better experience for fans and players.
"We believe this is an investment into the future with the sort of partner we need to go on that journey."
The RFU has been looking for additional investment and even considered a proposal to sell Twickenham and buy a 50 percent stake in London's Wembley -- England's national football stadium.
But those plans were ditched in favour of redeveloping Twickenham at a cost of some £663 million.
Asked about how much the deal with Allianz was worth, Sweeney replied: "It's a multi-year commitment and it's well over £100 million, so it's a fair value for what you'd expect for stadium naming rights these days."
Sweeney added: "It's money that we need to invest back into the game.
"We've had a tough time coming out of Covid, the game's under pressure -- we saw three professional clubs go out of business (and) that was extremely painful.
"So, this is money we need to generate, to invest back into the community game so we keep that pipeline going."
Twickenham will now become the eighth stadium around the world to be rebranded under the Allianz banner.
The venue will host the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup final, while the first international fixture under the new name will see England's women play world champions New Zealand on September 14.
P.Costa--AMWN