August 2025 Rugby Round-Up
The Rugbystore round-up of the big news stories from the world of rugby over August.
1. Newcastle Falcons become Red Bulls
After years of financial struggles, the Newcastle Falcons seem to have finally turned a corner, with the club being bought by the famous energy drink brand, Red Bull. The Red Bull Sports Group was created to invest in teams across a variety of sports, with a portfolio spanning Formula 1, football, ice hockey, and now rugby union.
As part of the takeover, the sports group has rebranded the Gallagher Premiership side as the Newcastle Red Bulls, bringing them in line with other Red Bull-owned clubs such as RB Leipzig and the New York Red Bulls.
With a proven track record of turning their teams into success stories, fans now have plenty of reason for optimism about the future.
2. Scarlets get US investors despite uncertain future
In a month that has brought uncertainty to Welsh club rugby, the Scarlets have found a bright spot after announcing investment from US-based House of Luxury (HOL) LLC.
HOL intends to take a majority stake in the Welsh club, focusing on non-rugby operational leadership. They plan to work with the current board to ensure the club’s legacy and heritage are respected. HOL will also assume the club’s financial liabilities as they build a strategic vision to safeguard the future of the team.
This comes at a time when the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) is considering its options for the domestic game, with the governing body suggesting that reducing four teams to two may help preserve Welsh rugby.
The Scarlets, Ospreys, Cardiff, and Newport have all begun the consultation process with the WRU as they search for the best solution for all parties involved.
3. Rees-Zammit swaps the States for the Bristol
In another positive for Welsh rugby, Louis Rees-Zammit has ended his time stateside, announcing a one-year deal with the Bristol Bears as he returns to rugby.
Having shocked fans a year and a half ago by joining the NFL International Program in the United States, Rees-Zammit has now called time on his short American football career, which included stints with the Kansas City Chiefs and Jacksonville Jaguars.
After being linked with several URC Welsh clubs and Top 14 sides in France, the elusive winger has settled on a move to Bristol. With the new season just weeks away, the switch gives the Welshman the chance to hit the ground running and push for international contention ahead of the Autumn Tests.
August Competition Round-Up
Rugby Championship
The southern hemisphere’s premier international competition has returned to our screens, already delivering some of the most entertaining rugby of the year.
As we head into Round 3, each team has a win on the board. Argentina stunned the rugby world with a historic 29–23 victory over the All Blacks on the opening weekend. That wasn’t the only upset, as the Wallabies followed up their win over the Lions with a 38–22 triumph over South Africa—their first-ever victory at Ellis Park.
The Springboks and All Blacks struck back a week later, keeping the standings tight heading into the next round of the Rugby Championship.
Women’s Rugby World Cup
The 2025 Women’s World Cup is in full swing, with two rounds of group stage games already complete.
Seven of the eight quarter-finalists have already been confirmed ahead of the final round of fixtures. The Red Roses, Canada, Scotland, Black Ferns, Ireland, South Africa, and France have secured their places, with the last spot to be decided in Group A. Australia and the USA played out a 31–31 draw, meaning the Wallaroos must beat England to progress. Anything less, and the USA could steal second place with a big bonus-point win over Samoa.
For the rest, there is still plenty to play for, as every result in the final round could shape the knockout stage matchups.
Pacific Nations Cup
The Pacific Nations Cup is heading into its final round of pool fixtures, with plenty still to play for as teams look to secure their place in the semi-finals.
Fiji have already booked their spot, as Tonga managed just four points from their two games. This means the Tier 2 powerhouse could even afford a loss to Samoa in their last match and still progress, thanks to their bonus-point victory over the Sea Eagles.
Japan aren’t as secure in Pool B. They are level on points with Canada, but their superior points difference should see them through—even if they lose to the USA, who already fell 34–20 to their North American neighbours earlier in the competition.
That’s it! That’s our quick round-up for August 2025. Be sure to checkout the rest of the Rugbystore Blog for news, reviews, training tips and much more.