Premiership side Gloucester has "requested permission" for Mohed Altrad, the billionaire owner of Top14 side Montpellier, "to become the majority shareholder" of the club, according to Alex Lowe of the LONDON TIMES. The proposed deal "breaks ownership rules and will be blocked" unless Altrad can convince European rugby bosses there is no "risk to the integrity" of the European Champions Cup and the Challenge Cup. From a domestic standpoint, the Rugby Football Union has "no objections" to Altrad buying into Gloucester. The deal for 55% ownership, after which Kingsholm Stadium could be renamed the Altrad Stadium, must also be approved by the French Rugby Union, European Professional Club Rugby and World Rugby. EPCR Dir General Vincent Gaillard hinted that "EPCR might be more willing than World Rugby to green light the deal." He also revealed that EPCR "will look to strike a single television deal" in the U.K. when the rights are negotiated next year, "which would pitch existing broadcasters BT Sport and Sky Sports into a bidding war" (LONDON TIMES, 12/17).
