Shorts: Man City Women, Chelsea Women, Havas Play UK

Manchester City Women have launched a new £10m dedicated first team facility designed to support the squad following their second Women’s Super League (WSL) title victory.

The 17,000 square foot space was developed with input from staff and players to create a purpose-built environment. The facility includes medical and rehab spaces, strength and conditioning areas, and a circular dressing room.

While providing the team with a dedicated headquarters, the facility remains integrated within the club’s wider operational and football ecosystem. The site also offers access to a 7,000-capacity stadium, marking the first purpose-built stadium in the WSL.

The opening comes as Manchester City Women secure their second WSL title, finishing with 52 points and a perfect record of wins at home. The team has also reached the FA Cup Final.

This new facility marks the next logical step in our long-term commitment to Manchester City Women, and is an important milestone for the club as a whole. We have always believed in investing to create the right environment for players and staff to develop and succeed. That approach has underpinned every aspect of our work since the professional relaunch of Manchester City Women in 2014. The facility therefore rightly reflects the scale of our ambition for Manchester City Women and our long-term belief in the future of the women’s game.

Khaldoon Al Mubarak, Chairman, Manchester City

Charlotte O’Neill, Managing Director of Manchester City Women, stated that the world-class space is intended to create an environment where players can thrive and standards are set at the highest level to continue winning silverware and attracting top global talent.

Chelsea FC Women Announce Oceania Tour

Chelsea FC Women have partnered with digital marketing company Constant Contact as the presenting partner for a 2026 pre-season tour of Australia and New Zealand.

The tour includes the club’s first-ever trip to New Zealand, where they will face Auckland FC Women at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday, August 8, 2026. The match is scheduled for a 16:00 local time kick-off. This fixture makes Chelsea the first WSL club to play a game in New Zealand, utilizing a 50,000-capacity venue that previously hosted matches during the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Following the New Zealand fixture, the squad will travel to Australia to play the A-League Women All-Stars. That match will take place on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, at Allianz Stadium in Sydney.

Northampton Saints Expand Internationally

Premiership Rugby club Northampton Saints have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SC Global Consultancy’s Asia Pacific Lions Rugby (APL) for an international collaboration.

As part of the agreement, the Saints will travel to Sri Lanka to play the APL on August 28, 2026, at the Racecourse International Stadium in Colombo. The APL was launched in 2025 to improve rugby standards across South Asia, with Director of Rugby David Campese overseeing a squad featuring talent from the Pacific Islands and Asia.

The tour is supported by travel partner Aitken Spence Travels and payroll solutions provider DASA GROUP UK.

We are proud to formalise this agreement and take Northampton Saints on an exciting new adventure internationally. From a rugby perspective, this fixture provides a unique opportunity to enhance our pre-season preparations in a challenging and inspiring environment.

Julia Chapman, Chief Executive, Northampton Saints

Saabir Cader, Founder and Director of Asia Pacific Lions, described the agreement as a historic day for rugby in the region and a powerful statement of intent.

Sports Marketing and Commercial Updates

In agency news, Havas Play UK has appointed a new senior leadership team consisting of Hannah Liu-Sherman as Managing Partner, Maria Panayi as Head of Culture, and Charlie Hugill as Chief Client Officer.

CEO Nick Wright noted that brands now seek to operate meaningfully across both sport and culture simultaneously. The agency, which has previously been nominated for ‘Agency of the Year’ at the Sport Industry Awards, aims to use this new leadership to deliver culturally intelligent and commercially sharp work for clients, including Jet2.

Separately, PR agency Soapbox has been retained to manage the UK press office for supplementation brand Ten Percent Club. The brand’s roster of associated sporting figures includes Maya Le Tissier, Beth Mead, Matty Cash, Sam Johnstone, and Eddie Hearn, alongside promotions such as Matchroom Boxing.

Soapbox, which also represents Red Bull, Formula E, the Professional Darts Corporation, and Luke Littler, will focus on educating consumers about recovery, sleep, and hydration. Ten Percent Club founder Luke O’Reilly stated the partnership comes as the brand seeks to grow awareness ahead of a major summer of sport.

Finally, England Women’s Football Team captain Leah Williamson has partnered with Cadbury for the Gift a First Gig initiative. The campaign, which encourages fans to nominate others for their first concert experience via social media, is supported by Ticketmaster, Academy Music Group, and Camp Bestival presented by Debenhams.

The initiative is based on research showing that 42% of the British population attended a live concert in the last year, and the average Brit has attended 12 gigs in their lifetime. The data also indicated that 25% of Gen Z attended their first concert before age 11.