Shane Whelan: Inside the Lions’ Most Successful Tour

Shane Whelan: Inside the Lions’ Most Successful Tour

In this episode of The Game Plan, Anna‑Rose Gabbitass sits down with Shane Whelan, Chief Marketing Officer of The British & Irish Lions, to unpack the strategy behind one of the most successful Tours in Lions history. From record‑breaking commercial performance and global fan growth to digital innovation, AI and the landmark profit‑share model, Shane shares how an iconic sporting brand is evolving for the modern era and what’s next with the historic Lions Women’s Tour. Follow us on @sportindustry

Harry Hesp: How Baller League is rewriting the rules of modern football

This episode of The Game Plan features Harry Hesp, Marketing Director at Baller League. Dylan Pugh and Harry Hesp explore how the fast‑growing football league is blending sport, content and culture - from its innovative format and celebrity managers to its appeal with younger audiences and global brands.  Recorded as Baller League celebrates major momentum, including its first-ever Friday event, this is a sharp look at the future of football entertainment. Follow us on @sportindustry

Jason Heard: Movember, Mental Health & NextGen 2026

In this episode of The Game Plan, Anna-Rose Gabbitass is joined by Jason Heard, Young Men’s Health Implementation Manager at Movember Europe and a member of the 2026 NextGen cohort. From relocating from Australia to driving change across the UK, Jason shares his journey into one of sport’s most important conversations - mental health. Follow us on @sportindustry

Canto on Sports Content: Managing Digital Content at Scale

In this episode of The Game Plan, Dylan Pugh speaks to Andrew Hall, VP of Global Demand Generation at Canto, sponsor of the Sports Content Award at The 25th Sport Industry Awards. They discuss how sports organisations now operate like media companies, producing huge amounts of content across social, video, and digital platforms and the challenges that come with it. From organising assets and managing rights to collaborating across teams and using AI for efficiency, Andrew explains how Canto helps turn content into a strategic and commercial asset. If you want to understand the systems behind great sports content, this episode is for you. Follow us on @sportindustry

Inside the Tech in Sport Award with Sportradar: What Sets the Best Apart

As we build towards The 25th Sport Industry Awards, this episode of The Game Plan dives into the Tech in Sport Award, in association with Sportradar. Dylan Pugh is joined by Sportradar’s EVP Global Marketing, Adam Azor, to unpack this year’s shortlist - from AI-powered coaching tools and smart mouthguards improving player welfare, to innovations transforming fan experience and driving commercial growth. Together, they explore what separates good tech from great tech, why AI is now foundational in sport, and what it really takes to create technology that delivers measurable impact. Follow us on @sportindustry