Barney Francis is to deliver the inaugural “Game Changer” lecture which closes the opening day of Rugby Expo 2016 at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry in November.
The managing director of broadcasters Sky Sports is one of several leading figures in rugby speaking at the conference and exhibition, which is being staged at the new Coventry home of Premiership side Wasps for the first time.
Bill Beaumont, the incoming chairman of World Rugby and one of the towering figures of English rugby, will deliver a wide-ranging opening keynote speech outlining his vision for the future of the game.
Wasps CEO David Armstrong will be among the senior European club executives to take part in the Club Council, an interactive panel discussion. The session will address the relationship between clubs and international unions and the role of the leagues in promoting and sustaining the sport.
Speakers from Microsoft and digital sponsorship tracking specialists SnapRapid are the first to confirm their participation in a session, which focuses on the biggest issue in sports business, the digital commercialisation of sports, and how this can be applied to professional rugby.
Francis, who was appointed managing director at Sky Sports in 2009, will offer a unique perspective on the relationship between sports and broadcasters, based on his experience of delivering live coverage as well as in the boardroom.
For more information about Rugby Expo, which is taking place on November 3 and 4, click here.
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