Global Sport Group, in partnership with Roc Nation Sports International, is rewriting the playbook on how professional leagues grow — and this time, the athletes are in the room.
CVC-backed Global Sport Group (GSG) launched its first-ever Athlete Advisory Board (AAB) in partnership with Roc Nation Sports International, the London-based division of Roc Nation known for representing top talent in football, rugby and entertainment.
The AAB puts athlete voices at the center of long-term league development, creating a formal channel for players to shape the future of global sport.
The board features three high-profile athletes from GSG’s portfolio: Siya Kolisi, South Africa’s World Cup-winning rugby captain; David Villa, Spanish football legend and all-time top scorer for Spain; and Skylar Diggins, U.S. basketball star and Olympic gold medalist.
“Football is a truly global game, and what’s clear is that the athlete’s voice is the most trusted voice with the fans,” Villa said. “I am joining the AAB to help GSG ensure their investment strategies genuinely strengthen the player-fan connection and build sustainable pathways for talent development across every major market.”
Kolisi emphasized the importance of well-being and representation across professional sport.
“As someone who has lived the realities of the professional game, my goal is to ensure that player feedback — in terms of tackling both physical and mental demands — isn’t just a talking point but a core part of the commercial strategy,” Kolisi said. “This board will be a powerful mechanism for change in that space, especially in rugby.”
Diggins, one of the WNBA’s most recognizable stars, underscored the significance of GSG’s inclusion of women’s sport in its global strategy.
“This is a moment where women’s sports will receive the equitable and responsible investment they deserve,” Diggins said. “My focus on the AAB will be on issues like fair wages and brand building to make sure that as the women’s game expands globally, the commercial model directly benefits the athletes who are driving that growth.”
Global Sport Group, founded in 2025 and backed by private equity firm CVC Capital Partners, invests across seven of the world’s premier leagues — including La Liga, Ligue 1, the WTA, Volleyball World, Six Nations Rugby and Premiership Rugby.
Its mission: modernize global sport through sustainable investment and fan-first innovation while preserving each league’s heritage.
Supporting that mission is Roc Nation Sports International (RNSI), the sports agency arm of Jay-Z’s Roc Nation.
Since opening its London office in 2019 under President Michael Yormark, RNSI has represented stars such as Vinícius Júnior, Marcus Smith, Endrick, Federico Dimarco and Cheslin Kolbe, while consulting for organizations including E1, SailGP, Mamelodi Sundowns, Como FC and Matchroom Boxing.
Through its partnership with GSG, RNSI will connect the Athlete Advisory Board to its global network of players, brands and league partners, ensuring athlete voices directly shape GSG’s investments and long-term strategies.
The board will convene later this month to set priorities for the year ahead, focusing on athlete workload, youth development and the continued rise of women’s sport. For GSG, it signals that athletes aren’t just being heard, but that they’re helping steer the ship.
