PREM Rugby has secured another commercial marker before the new Gallagher PREM cycle, with Funding Circle renewing its partnership for a fifth season.
The UK SME finance platform confirmed the extension on 1 July 2026, stating that the renewed agreement will increase its presence across branded PREM fixtures and expand original content work through PREM Media House. The deal keeps Funding Circle in place as the league’s official business finance partner, a position it has held since the 2022/23 season.
For PREM Rugby, the timing matters. The league has spent the past year sharpening its commercial language around club sustainability, supporter reach and player access. Recent squad-retention moves, including Joe Heyes’ Leicester Tigers renewal, have shown how clubs are trying to build certainty on the field; this agreement speaks to the same need off it.
Why the renewal carries weight
Funding Circle said lending through its platform supported 117,000 jobs and contributed GBP7.9bn to UK GDP in 2025, while the new rugby agreement will give the brand more matchday visibility and more behind-the-scenes content. That is a practical sponsorship play rather than a passive logo deal.
PREM Rugby commercial director Kelly Cooke described the previous four seasons as a strong platform and pointed to fan engagement, matchday experiences and support for players exploring business ventures away from rugby.
The league’s own commercial test is now clear: turn partner spend into visible supporter value while keeping the Gallagher PREM’s financial narrative pointed towards growth, not survival.
External source: Funding Circle partnership announcement.
