Oliver Phelps has become a part-owner of a British rugby team competing in a newly launched championship.
The 40-year-old actor, who played George Weasley in all eight Harry Potter films alongside his twin brother James Phelps, has invested in Atlantic Novas, one of six squads in the Ultimate Sevens Championship. The team debuted in Cardiff, Wales, over the weekend.
“I’m a big rugby fan so I couldn’t wait to get involved in Ultimate Sevens,” Phelps said after watching his side win the inaugural women’s competition at Cardiff Arms Park.
“The game is fast-paced, and I love the innovations that Ultimate Sevens have brought to the sport.”
Phelps highlighted the league’s accessibility and growth potential, particularly with rugby sevens set for the Los Angeles Olympics. He also praised the organization’s commitment to gender equity.
“Ultimate Sevens is so accessible. I’m getting involved as it has huge potential for growth globally, especially in the run-up to the LA Olympics,” he continued.
“I also like the way Ultimate Sevens have ensured that the men’s and women’s teams are on an equal footing – my daughter has started playing and I’m coaching her at grassroots level.”
The Ultimate Sevens Championship markets itself as a reimagined rugby experience. Its website describes “four hours of supercharged, non-stop rugby set against an electric atmosphere where fans don’t just watch world-class rugby — they become part of the experience.”
The description adds: “This is rugby at full speed, adrenaline-fuelled and packed with highlights and big moments, immersed with DJs, live entertainment and crowd interaction that will have you out of your seat. The energy never lets up.”
The championship consists of six newly created “elite global clubs,” with Atlantic Novas representing Phelps’s entry into sports ownership.
The Phelps twins have remained connected to the Harry Potter universe since the final film released 15 years ago. They currently host “Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking,” a competition series where professional baking pairs construct elaborate edible creations on the original film sets. The show’s third season is scheduled for release later this year.
Both brothers have also maintained intermittent acting work, with credited appearances in projects including Edgar Wright’s “Last Night in Soho” and the series “Kingdom,” as well as their own program “Fantastic Friends.”
The rugby investment marks Oliver Phelps’s most significant professional pivot away from entertainment since the conclusion of the wizarding franchise that defined his early career.
“Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking” season three will premiere later this year.