This month, we had the privilege of conducting an interview with the new co-owner of Salford RLFC and ex-Red Devils star, Mason Caton-Brown, who is part of the ‘Phoenix Bid’ consortium helping bring back the rugby league club.
A former winger turned entrepreneur, Mason Caton-Brown is now a joint director within the organisation alongside two other main business partners – one of whom he says is responsible for spearheading the resurrection in the first place.
That man is Paul Hancock – a native Salfordian and die-hard Red Devils fan for more than three decades – whose company, PH Services, has already sponsored the local sporting institution for several years.
Mason told us that, as well as having followed their financial struggles in recent times, he has been speaking to Hancock regularly for some time now, with the latter suggesting the prospect of stepping in to salvage the situation in the last couple of months.
They should be back up and running in time for the 2026 rugby league season.
“We’d just been casually speaking about it up until about five or six weeks ago”, says the Enfield-born athlete and businessman.
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“We wanted to try and come up with a solution of what we could do to try and help, so we put together a group of people, and since then, it’s been late nights and early mornings every day, putting together this plan and a group of people that can you know rebuild Salford in a way where the city can be proud of it.”
Stressing the importance of building a “sustainable” strategy – as opposed to the false promises of the previous ‘investors’ who failed to rescue the club – it’s clear the consortium has a core group of principles they’re looking to stick by.
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But Mason was quick to share credit and recognise that “it was Paul’s idea.”
“He’d been sitting on it for a while now, just thinking in his mind of how to try and save the club, to help them however he could. And yeah: he reached out; we were meeting for other business things, and he put it to me, and I said ‘definitely’.
“I think it’s not just about having an ex-player in there either, there are other people involved as well. It’s the fans; they are supporters who have been following this club for 20-odd years. They’re the other members in this group, and fundamentally, it’s going to be a transparent, honest club.”
For me personally”, Mason continued, “it’s a bit of a dream come true to be able to be a part of a club as a player, and now being able to help rebuild is kind of a dream.
“I moved up here as a 21-year-old kid, fresh-faced player; I still have a house in the area, and I still live in the city, and it kind of just embraced me. I was from London, so obviously a big capital city, and I came to Salford, and I was welcomed with open arms.
“The people, the club and the wider community helped me become who I am today; I have my businesses there as well, so it’s a big part of my life, and to be back involved with the club is just brilliant.”
The conversation quickly moved on to what’s next for the club and, specifically, the prospect of rebranding and potentially even a new name for Salford’s rugby league side.
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After all, the ‘phoenix’ motif and wider concept are already right there for the taking.
However, if there was ever any doubt among any part of the fan base that the 32-year-old is, indeed, a business person these days and experienced enough in this department, that was quickly snuffed out in his response.
He’s even more committed to the club than his days as a teammate. (Credit: Supplied via Rumpus PR)
Mason was pretty tight-lipped when pressed on the notion of a new badge and possibly even a new name for the 152-year-old team, and rightly so – put simply, he says, “We want to get it right.”
“So, obviously, we’re going to stay Salfordian at the centre of everything, and we don’t want to just announce something; it will still be a Salford club.”
He took a similar tack when asked about the staff and a new squad. Despite the Phoenix Bid having already assured pre-agreements with a head coach and several players, he wouldn’t budge on any names or hints, simply stating that the group plans to make some announcements before the New Year.
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“Our first aim is stability and security”, he says. “Putting the fans first, bringing the fans back together, and just building something that the fans can be proud of. Locally, it’ll be good to get the community involved, and long term, obviously, our goal is to get the club back into the Super League.
“That would be an amazing story for the club. We’ve seen it happen with other clubs like Bradford [Bulls] and Hull KR, so that’s there, but for now we want to steady, get the supporters involved and provide value for he fans.
Citing that first game back and returning to Championship level against regional rivals Oldham RLFC, they’re hoping to make it “a real celebration.”
Sharing a statement via their new social media account, SRLFC wrote: “The hard work starts now. We’ve promised to build a strong, sustainable future for rugby league in Salford, one that protects our heritage and ensures the next generation has a club to be proud of.
“We know how much this club means. We’ve all felt the highs, the heartbreaks, and the hope. That’s why this moment matters so much because together, we get to start again. Our plan is simple: honesty, transparency, and community first.
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“This is about rebuilding properly, step by step and doing it the right way. We’re asking for your patience, support, and belief. There will be challenges ahead, but there will also be incredible moments that remind us why we love this game. This is for the fans. For Salford. Forever.”
If it does come to pass, it won’t be the only big rebrand taking place in the city…
A closer look at the details behind the new #SalfordCity club crest. 🦁
Featured Images — Mason Caton-Brown/Rumpus PR (supplied)
Sport
UK pub chain announces bottomless Guinness for the 2026 Six Nations
Danny Jones
As we all know, Guinness and the Six Nations go hand in hand, so pubs not only showing all of this year’s games, but also serving bottomless pints of the good stuff here in Greater Manchester, is an absolute match made in heaven.
With the 2026 Six Nations tournament kicking off this Thursday, 5 February – a France vs Ireland opener in Paris – Manc rugby fans are already nailing down their go-to spots to watch the fixtures.
However, we can’t think of many other places offering bottomless black gold in town, let alone anywhere else in and around Manchester.
So, if you were still unsure of where to watch this year’s tournament, the Social Pub and Kitchen group might have just made the decision for you…
That’s right, this widespread British chain is looking to keep the pints flowing throughout the duration of this year’s competition, thanks to a twist on their standard bottomless brunch format.
Running for every single televised meeting between the much-loved half dozen rugby union teams, all 103 of their locations across the country will be providing this impressive offer on pints.
Here in central Manchester, that includes Tank and Paddle in the Printworks, Crafty Pig on the edge of the Northern Quarter, The Beech Inn in Chorlton, and The Director’s Box right in the heart of the city – and dangerously close to The Manc office…
As well as these nearby venues, there are obviously plenty more around the North West for those slightly further afield, including the likes of Cheshire and Derbyshire.
With a new food menu too, which features several honey-based dishes like the sweet sriracha pizza, chipotle loaded fries, as well as honey chipotle chicken wings, the matchday scran is on point.
So too are the drinks, clearly, and if any of your party wants to stray away from the bottomless Guinness, there are series of special Six Nations-themed cocktails, such as the ‘Midnight in Dublin’, a ‘Peach on the Pitch’ margarita, Baby Velvet, and the bold ‘G-Bomb’.
Yes, we suspect it is as boozy as it sounds.
Running throughout February and March whilst the games are on, we imagine plenty of people will be making at least one Social Pub and Kitchen site their chosen destination for watching all the action.
Even if you happen to be reading this outside of Greater Manchester, you can find your nearest Social Pub and Kitchen and book your table right HERE.
And if you’d still like some other alternatives here in the city centre, you can do no wrong with our helpful little round-up.
Featured Images — The Manc Group/Publicity picture (supplied)
Sport
Bad Bunny: What you need to know about the Super Bowl LX headliner before his big halftime show
Thomas Melia
Global superstar Bad Bunny is headlining the Super Bowl LX halftime show, and we’re giving you the rundown about the current reigning reggaeton artist.
Despite being world famous and hugely popular in Latin America as well as other Hispanic countries, not everyone had heard his name before now.
And since there seem to be more places showing the Super Bowl than ever in Manchester this year, we thought we’d give you a little explainer of his story so far and why you should care when he takes one of the world’s biggest stages.
So, if you’ve been wondering, “who is Bad Bunny?” – well, this is who…
Who is Super Bowl halftime show headliner, Bad Bunny?
Born in Puerto Rico, Benito Antonio – now more widely recognised by his artistic moniker Bad Bunny – is a fast-rising Spanish-speaking act who has transported modern-day reggaeton from Latin America to all new heights.
The Puerto Rican powerhouse has only ever visited the UK once, performing at O2 Forum Kentish Town in London seven years ago as part of his first-ever run of global shows entitled ‘La Nueva Religión’ (The New Religion) tour.
Since then, ‘El Benito’ has dropped seven full-length studio albums and nine musical projects overall, which have all helped establish him as a major force to be reckoned with in the music industry.
Bad Bunny is headlining the upcoming Super Bowl halftime show on 8 February / Credit: Press Shot via Apple Music(Supplied) / Unsplash via Naveen Venkatesan
Alongside his musical career, Bad Bunny has seen himself at the forefront of various pop culture moments thanks to his innovative fashion sense and notable charm.
Iconic moments Bad Bunny is known for
With his first album X 100Pre (an abbreviation meaning Forever) dropping back in 2018, Bad Bunny has spent almost eight years in the limelight, so it will come as no surprise that there are plenty of iconic moments you might remember.
Bad Bunny as a drag queen – To coincide with the release of his single ‘Yo Perreo Sola’ (I Twerk Alone), Benito stepped into unchartered territory, debuting three different Drag personas to combat toxic masculinity in the reggaeton music scene.
WWE – Benito is a huge fan of wrestling. He first appeared for a performance at the Royal Rumble in 2021, before returning later that year and teaming up with Damian Priest to take down The Miz and John Morrison.
VMA performance – The Latin multi-hyphenate made headlines in 2022 after kissing a male dancer on-stage. Both fans and media outlets stated the performance harked back to Madonna’s similar showcase two decades prior; you can watch Bad Bunny’s kiss HERE (skip to 2:50).
Met Gala – Well-recognised for its glamorous and glitzy outfits, the Met Gala brings together A-Listers for a showcase of all things fashion. Bad Bunny was styled by fashion house Jacquemus and wore a backless suit with a 26-foot train.
The Super Bowl is a huge accomplishment for all artists; now Bad Bunny joins the headlining roster / Credit: Jorge Rojas via Unsplash (Supplied)
SNL – The LATAM star has appeared on American comedy sketch-show SNL numerous times, both as an artist and as a part-time comedian. In 2023, Bad Bunny and Pedro Pascal became an overprotective aunty and mum duo and had crowds laughing uncontrollably.
Carpool Karaoke – James Corden’s nighttime show segment was welcomed into the reggaeton world courtesy of Bad Bunny. However, it’s his cover of ‘Break Free’ by Ariana Grande where he discusses it’s the first English-spoken song he ever learnt that had people falling in love with him.
Coachella – This desert-based music festival is known for its large-scale productions, and in the early summer of 2023, Bad Bunny became the first Spanish-speaking artist to headline this mega music celebration.
No Me Quiero Ir de Aquí – Translating to ‘I don’t want to leave here’, this was the title of his Puerto Rico residency. As well as creating lifelong memories for fans, this 31-date experience also boosted the economy of his home country.
What songs will Bad Bunny perform at his Super Bowl halftime show?
With 28 songs over one billion streams, Bad Bunny is going to have a tricky time deciphering which of his hits to include in his upcoming Super Bowl halftime show performance.
His most recognisable album is the beach-inspired Un Verano Sin Ti (A Summer Without You), which features six tracks with over one billion streams, so it’s safe to say this LP is guaranteed some love.
The latest addition to El Benito’s discography, DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS (I Should’ve Taken More Photos) might also steal the spotlight due to its focus on exploring traditional Puerto Rican sounds.
And, after reconciling late last year, Bad Bunny might take his friendship with J Balvin to Super Bowl status, performing songs from their collaborative album OASIS as well as their Cardi B link-up ‘I Like It’.
Audio North‘s Bad Bunny Super Bowl setlist prediction:
NUEVAYoL
Tití Me Preguntó/ Me Porto Bonito/ Moscow Mule (Medley)
Dákiti
I Like It (With Cardi B and J Balvin)
La Canción (With J Balvin)
Callaíta (With Tainy)
Un x100to (With Grupo Frontera)
Baile Inolvidable
Super Bowl halftime show performances normally contain around 10 songs, and the setlist is being kept very tight-lipped as per usual; however, it’s always fun to throw out a prediction or two before the event on Sunday, 8 February.
Which special guests will join Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show line-up?
Bad Bunny has worked with a multitude of artists from reggaeton sidekicks to pop supremes like Jennifer Lopez, Dua Lipa and Drake.
Although it’s highly unlikely these big names will all be free at the same time, when it comes to ‘The Bowl’, anything is possible.
The ‘Tití Me Preguntó’ songwriter is heading to the UK for the second time ever in his career, for his Debí Tirar Más FotosWorld Tour, and he’s chosen Tottenham Hotspur as the location for this huge cultural moment.
If you’re wondering where to get tickets, you have two chances to watch this superstar in his element as he’s performing on June 27 and 28; you can grab your tickets for either date HERE and HERE, respectively.
Hopefully, now you’ve discovered more about who this Latin American sensation is, so you’re not left completely clueless when the Seahawks and Patriots take a quick 15-minutebreak mid-game.
Danny Jones -
26th December 2025 
