Red Bull investment has opened eyes - Baxter

Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter says Red Bull's takeover at Newcastle may have helped his club get close to one themselves.

Exeter members will vote on a proposed takeover by an unnamed American investor next month.

Global drinks giant Red Bull took charge of Newcastle Falcons last year - rebranding them as the Red Bulls this season and adding them to their stable of football and motorsports teams.

Baxter says the spotlight Red Bull's investment in Newcastle showcased the Prem to potential new investors.

"I think people see a lot of opportunity that it (rugby union) can be moved forward quite progressively in the coming seasons and that it's still going to be a growing sport," Baxter said.

"That to me probably is what outside investors are seeing.

"Once you see names like Red Bull start to get involved that opens quite a lot of people's eyes as to what they're seeing and how commercially viable it might become to link yourself to that kind of an audience that is potentially there."

Baxter would not be drawn on any specifics of the proposed deal, with Exeter refusing to comment until the club's 700 members are consulted at a special general meeting in early May.

But he says the sport is changing and new investment in the league will help it grow.

From next season the Prem will no longer have traditional promotion and relegation - instead clubs with ambitions to play in the top flight will apply to join the league as it becomes more of a franchise model.

"Everything is going to adapt and change over time, it just will," added Baxter, who is the longest-serving director of rugby in the top flight and agreed a new 'multi-year' contract earlier this month.

"You need to remember that there will be some investors who also like the traditional values and elements of the game, so it's not always just going to be everyone who comes in wants to radically change everything.

"I think we need to be a little bit careful before we start going down the route that rugby is going to change forever in the wrong way. It might change forever, but it might change in a positive way.

"It might be more engaging for young people, it might be something that more young people start to do rather than less young people, which is the current situation.

"So I think we've got to try and create a positive trend from any kind of investment or any extra interest that comes into the game rather than look at the negatives."