American investment group Knighthead has been encouraged to include rugby club Birmingham Moseley in their growing sporting interests within Birmingham.
Knighthead took a controlling stake in Birmingham City Football Club three years ago, completing a full takeover last year. Their involvement in Birmingham’s sports scene also includes stakes in the cricket team Birmingham Phoenix and the netball team Birmingham Panthers.
The group has ambitious plans for the city, aiming to create a Sports Quarter just outside Birmingham city centre centred around a new 62,000-seat stadium known as The Powerhouse. While Birmingham City is expected to make this stadium their home within the next decade, Knighthead envisions the venue hosting a variety of major sporting events across multiple disciplines.
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Within these broader ambitions, discussions have been underway regarding the addition of a rugby team to Knighthead’s portfolio. They are considering either investing in existing National League 1 side Birmingham Moseley - who play in the third tier of professional rugby - or establishing a new team from scratch.
Birmingham Moseley, whose facilities are more modest than those of the football club, are keen to tap into their potential with the right backing. John Richards, a director at Moseley, has appealed directly to Knighthead’s Tom Wagner to take on the rugby club as his next project in Birmingham.
Richards highlighted the financial challenges faced, explaining that to compete in the second tier, the club would need to at least double their current playing budget, with costs rising further at higher levels. He stated, “The infrastructure, the facilities, and the ambition are absolutely there. We just need an injection of money to be able to do it properly because we won’t risk it on our own.”
He also noted the appeal of investing in a club with established infrastructure, fanbase, and history, rather than starting anew. Richards observed that Wagner has a track record of investing in post-industrial cities facing economic challenges, making Moseley an ideal match given its location in a deprived area of Birmingham, with outreach programmes supporting local youth.
As Knighthead continue to shape the future of Birmingham’s sporting landscape, the possible inclusion of Moseley Rugby could further enhance their impact across the city’s sports scene.