Renowned for his intense speed and try-scoring prowess, Rees-Zammit is now firmly in the thick of it as he prepares to transition to American football and the monumental task of adapting his skills to an entirely different sport. Having participated in the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program, which was established by the NFL in 2017 with the aim of providing elite international athletes with the opportunity to compete at the highest level of American football.

Sport Science Agency is thrilled to introduce Andrew Miller as the newest addition to the team, taking on the role of Communications and Content Lead. With nearly a decade of invaluable experience in strategic marketing and communications, Andrew's arrival marks a significant milestone for SSA as we navigate an exciting period of growth and expansion in 2024 and beyond.

New moves by the Premier League to remove betting firms as front of shirt sponsors have gained significant headlines in recent days.

Since the announcement, sports business experts have speculated about the consequences of this decision. Limiting the sponsorship options for one of the industry’s major partnership categories is likely to have a significant impact.

Preparations for France’s World Cup final appearance vs Argentina have been seemingly hit by an outbreak of illness amongst the squad. Prior to their semi-final, reports started to emerge that players were unwell. Dayot Upamecano and Adrien Rabiot missed the 2-0 victory over Morocco with the France Football Federation (FFF) confirming the reason both players were absent was due to illness. 

Concussion and brain trauma are emotive subjects in sport. As research continues to uncover the problems that traumatic brain injuries seem to have, discussions about safety and the long-term health of players will only intensify. In the USA, as early as 1906 doctors were publishing papers highlighting the dangers of concussion linked to playing American Football.

British Athlete Dina Asher-Smith has called for more research into the effect of periods on female athletes. The 2019 World 200m champion made the statement following pulling up in the European Athletics Championship final because of cramping calves. She attributed the cramps to “girls stuff” linking the incident to her menstrual cycle.

Jimmy Anderson will once again lead England’s pace attack as they take on South Africa at Lords. This is his first Test match since his 40th birthday, yet despite his advancing years, the end of his career doesn’t seem to be coming any time soon.

Concussion is an issue for athletes in many sports. In a recent blog, we highlighted the higher relative risk of concussion amongst female athletes compared to their male counterparts. In this follow-up blog, we will take a deeper look at some of the proposed reasons women are at a higher risk and what the stakeholders in women's sport can do to help as part of their sponsorship or partnership mix.

Technology has permeated sport in numerous ways. With the global popularity of football, it should come as no surprise that in many instances, the game is at the forefront of technological innovation. In this clip, from the BBC’s technology show, BBC Click Manchester-based VR company Rezzil’s player22 technology is the focus of attention.

As for so many, 2021 was another Covid-19 affected year for Sport Science Agency and its staff. In the UK, crowds were absent from major sporting fixtures until May. Even after they returned numbers remained restricted. As the year progressed, however, restrictions were gradually removed and for many, a welcome return of events and full capacity stadia brought the sports industry surging back to life.

The issue of fixture congestion and player welfare, perhaps predictably, came back to the fore recently as it seems to at this time every year. Multiple managers, and most notably Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson, have spoken out about the demands on players during the festive period. The usual debates surrounding fatigue, recovery, and injury have now been heightened by squad depletion that has hit many teams due to Covid-19.

Recent comments from Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has given player welfare a greater spotlight. Fixture congestion, injury, illness and obviously Covid-19 make his comments difficult to ignore.

Take a look at the video below to see SSA’s Dr Tom Brownlee discussing the matter with the BBC’s Olly Foster on Sports Day.

The signing, by Manchester United, of Cristiano Ronaldo, created considerable media coverage. The nature of the transfer, with the Red Devils seemingly snatching him from under the noses of cross-city rivals Manchester City only heightened the intrigue. In modern football, signing a player with a global reach and appeal such as Ronaldo heightens any club’s commercial opportunities. Ronaldo is the most followed person on Instagram meaning club partners are set to benefit from increased exposure and value across numerous metrics.

As research continues to suggest a link between heading in football and the development of neurodegenerative disease authorities have begun to act. New guidelines have been introduced at every level of the game to limit heading.