The entire sports scene will never be as we remember it. Crypto has entered the field and is changing our perspective on sports. Rugby is no exception, and rugby teams are fast adopting the changes, pioneering, and staying ahead of the curve. We can look at crypto integrations in rugby from two sides, the fans and teams. Fans now get new and interesting ways to support and cheer for their teams, and teams get features that enable them to interact with their fans, raise funds, and start new actions.
If we look at best betting site comparisons like Alexandre Dreyfus did in his review, we’ll see that betting sites are adopting crypto as a valid form of payment and giving their fans one more way to bet on matches. And these are just the tip of the iceberg for the potential of crypto in the UK rugby scene. Over the years, many teams have embraced the potential of crypto, and we can see it in several examples. The Scottish Glasgow Hutchesons’ Aloysians have formed a partnership with the Scotcoin Project CIC, headed by Temple Melville. It was a sponsorship deal where Scotcoin was introduced and bound to the team, making it a pioneer of its kind back in the day because it was the first Scottish-owned crypto.
The introduction of crypto into rugby means that crypto gambling is also possible, adding one more dimension to sports betting for the industry. This year in February, we saw Socios invest and sight a two-year agreement with Jersey Rugby Football Club, meaning that NFTs with popular players are now possible. NFTs can help fund the team while giving fans a direct share in the rugby team company, making them more involved. Socios remains a very solid implementer of crypto in the UK rugby scene, as it also made NFTs for three other teams, namely the Harlequins, the Leicester Tigers, and the Saracens.
NFTs can be for players, uniforms, logos, stadiums, plays, historic moments, or any other landmark or recognizable team trait. The company Socios also has its cryptocurrency named Chillz, backing it up and showing that the company is deeply invested in crypto and its success. Such investments are great for the rugby scene, as it could attract other companies to find teams to sponsor, leading to a mutual benefit, and it’s great for the fans as they can cheer for their teams outside of the field.
Crypto investments make noise and attract bigger players, as the industry shows potential, where smaller teams, women’s rugby teams, rising greenroot teams, and others can all benefit and get the monetary backing they lack for growth. The decentralized nature of crypto is ideal for quicker implementations and a wider acceptance ratio, as it goes above regular financial institutions and can weigh other transactions down and burden them with extra costs.
As rugby is a fast-paced sport, crypto is ideal and similar in nature, making the two a match made in heaven. The Rugby Football Union has reported an annual revenue of more than $279.000.000 for its fiscal year of 2022/23, and with more crypto investments coming during the 2023/24 period, that number is sure to rise, to everyone’s benefit and delight.
