"Grim reading" - Clubs post big losses laid bare as Premiership finances continue to wobble

Thursday, 25 December 2025 at 19:03

bySteven Smith

The latest set of accounts from Sale Sharks make for uncomfortable reading — and underline once again just how fragile life remains in the Gallagher Premiership.

Published last week, the figures show the Manchester club recorded an operating loss of £8.14 million for the most recent financial year, a 16.5% increase on the previous 12 months. Across the past two seasons, Sale have now lost around £15 million.

They are far from alone. Across the Premiership, the league’s 10 clubs posted a combined loss of £32 million last year — a figure that could yet rise once all accounts are finalised.

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Losses piling up across the league

Sale’s figures emerged alongside fresh accounts from Harlequins, which revealed an operating loss of £3.3 million for the year ending 30 June 2025.

That figure represented a sharp increase on the previous year and further underlined the financial pressure being felt across the top flight.

While Quins’ losses were significantly smaller than Sale’s, the direction of travel is the same — rising costs, tightening margins and continued reliance on external funding.

Owner backing remains key to Sale’s survival

Despite the bleak numbers, Sale’s position is not as perilous as it might first appear.

The club continues to be heavily backed by co-owner Simon Orange, who sold his Corpaq business for more than £1 billion and has repeatedly pledged to support Sale’s long-term ambitions of becoming a northern powerhouse.

That backing remains crucial at a time when several Premiership clubs are operating with little room for error.

Some positives in the numbers

There were at least a few encouraging signs buried in the accounts.

Turnover increased from £9.15 million to £9.7 million, largely due to increased central funding. That uplift was helped by Sale supplying a strong contingent of England internationals, triggering higher payments under the Professional Game Agreement.

Covid debt still a heavy burden

Like every Premiership club, Sale are still repaying Covid-era loans.

At the end of the financial year, the club owed £7.57 million to Sport England — a significant liability that continues to weigh heavily on club finances across the league.

Verdict: secure for now, but warning signs remain

While the numbers paint a worrying picture for English rugby as a whole, Sale’s immediate future is not under threat.

With Simon Orange’s wealth and willingness to continue underwriting losses, the club is in no danger of collapse in the short term. However, the broader picture — rising costs, stagnant crowds and increasing dependence on benefactors — continues to raise serious questions about the long-term sustainability of the Premiership model.

"$36 billion" - Two Gallagher Prem Owners Feature in Rugby’s Five Richest

Rugby has always been a game of grit, tradition, and community. But beyond the scrums and lineouts, a powerful group is quietly shaping the modern game — the wealthiest rugby club owners whose fortunes fuel the professional era.

From industrial tycoons to energy drink moguls, these are the rich figures steering the future of rugby.

Simon Orange

Nationality: English
Net Worth: £1.25 billion
Rugby CV: Co-owner, Sale Sharks

For Simon Orange, rugby is as much a local passion as it is a family affair. The Sale Sharks co-owner recently saw his wealth surge after selling a majority stake in his investment firm, Corpacq, in a deal valued at over £1 billion. The buyer, private equity giant TDR Capital, acquired the business Orange founded and chaired back in 2006.

Headquartered in Altrincham, Corpacq invests in small and medium-sized U.K. enterprises, particularly in the industrial and services sectors. The firm’s portfolio now includes 43 companies, generating £697 million in revenue and £119 million of adjusted EBITDA in 2023.

Despite his business triumphs, Orange’s profile extends beyond finance. Since acquiring Sale Sharks in 2016, he’s helped stabilise the Premiership club alongside wife Michelle — and often finds his name in headlines alongside his famous brother, former Take That singer Jason Orange.

Mohed Altrad

Nationality: Syrian/French
Net Worth: €3.6 billion
Rugby CV: Majority Shareholder, Montpellier Hérault Rugby

Few stories in sport rival that of Mohed Altrad. Born in Syria and migrating to France in 1969, he arrived without speaking the language and survived on a single meal a day. Decades later, he leads the Altrad Group, a global construction powerhouse producing scaffolding and cement mixers, with revenues of $2.4 billion and more than 21,000 employees.

Altrad’s journey from hardship to billionaire status mirrors the resilience he sees in rugby. As majority shareholder of Montpellier Hérault Rugby, he describes his investment as a reflection of the same principles that built his company: passion, dedication, teamwork, and respect. “Rugby,” he says, “truly embodies these values.” Under his ownership, Montpellier has enjoyed unprecedented success in French rugby’s top flight.

Hans-Peter Wild

Nationality: German
Net Worth: €3.7 billion
Rugby CV: Owner, Stade Français

For Hans-Peter Wild, rugby represents both a passion project and a platform for national ambition. The German billionaire, son of Wild company founder Rudolf Wild, co-created the Capri Sun brand in 1970 — a drink that became a global household name and the cornerstone of his fortune.

His enthusiasm for rugby began in Germany, where he founded the Wild Rugby Academy to nurture domestic talent and build an internationally competitive team. But his biggest splash came in France, where he took control of Stade Français, one of Europe’s most storied clubs. With his resources and determination, Wild aims to restore the Parisian team’s glory days and prove that financial backing and cultural respect can coexist in the modern rugby landscape.

Jacky Lorenzetti

Nationality: Swiss
Net Worth: €4 billion
Rugby CV: Majority Owner, Racing 92

Not every rugby tycoon was born with a love for the game. Swiss-born businessman Jacky Lorenzetti only discovered rugby after moving to France and marrying into a family of passionate supporters. A graduate of Lausanne’s hotel school, Lorenzetti made his fortune by founding Foncia, Europe’s largest real estate company.

That fortune eventually found its way to Racing 92, a then-second-tier French club he acquired a 62% stake in. Under Lorenzetti’s stewardship, Racing has become one of Europe’s most formidable teams, boasting state-of-the-art facilities and an enviable roster of international stars.

His investments have not only transformed the club but also helped shape the broader financial landscape of French rugby — even if not every marquee signing has delivered on expectation.

Chalerm Yoovidhya

Nationality: Thai
Net Worth: $36 billion (company value)
Rugby CV: Owners, Newcastle Red Bulls (formerly Newcastle Falcons)

Towering above the rest in financial might is Red Bull, whose empire straddles energy drinks, Formula 1, and now rugby. The Austrian company — half-owned by Chalerm Yoovidhya and family (estimated net worth $36 billion) and the other half by Mark Mateschitz ($39.6 billion) — made headlines this year when it acquired Premiership side Newcastle Falcons, rebranding them as the Newcastle Red Bulls.

Red Bull’s arrival at Kingston Park has injected new hope among fans, many of whom dream of rekindling the club’s glory days. Known for its aggressive sports marketing and high-performance ethos, the company’s foray into rugby could reshape how professional clubs operate, merging global branding power with grassroots identity.

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