Australian rugby union is saved from financial oblivion by a last-minute deal to have the game screened on Foxtel
- Rugby Australia has reached a deal with Fox Sports to broadcast the game
- The deal was signed off on Wednesday following the shutdown of competition
- Five team competition to be contested over 12 weekends and broadcast live
Rugby Australia has reached a deal with Fox Sports to broadcast the new-look Super Rugby Australia competition, saving the code from a potentially devastating financial blow.
The two parties signed off on the crucial agreement on Wednesday for the revised competition which begins on July 3 after the shutdown of the international Super Rugby competition due to coronavirus.
The five-team competition, which features the four Australian Super Rugby teams – New South Wales Waratahs, Queensland Reds, Canberra Brumbies and Melbourne Rebels – plus a revived Western Force will be contested over 12 consecutive weekends and will be broadcast live.
Foxtel also announced it had reached an agreement to air the New Zealand Super Rugby Aotearoa competition, which starts this weekend.
Joe Powell of the Brumbies celebrates scoring a try with team mates during the round seven Super Rugby match between the Brumbies and the Waratahs at GIO Stadium on March 15, 2020
Foxtel also announced it had reached an agreement to air the New Zealand Super Rugby Aotearoa competition, which starts this weekend
The broadcast revenue gives a lifeline to RA, which had been shedding staff after finding itself under massive financial pressure.
There had been fears that Foxtel may have played hard-ball and elected not to broadcast the new competition after negotiations broke down earlier this year for a new deal beyond 2020.
Will all teams starting on zero points, the Super Rugby AU season gets underway in Brisbane with the Queensland Reds hosting the NSW Waratahs at Suncorp Stadium on Friday, July 3.
The following night in Canberra, the Brumbies will host the Melbourne Rebels.
Western Force will begin its campaign in round two after an opening-round bye.
The competition will involve 10 weeks of round-robin matches before a two-week finals series featuring a qualifying final on September 12 and a final on September 19.
Rugby Australia interim CEO Rob Clarke said the next step was to announce the Test-match schedule.
‘We will continue to work closely with Fox Sports and Foxtel on the schedule for the international season following the revised Super Rugby tournament and look forward to making further exciting announcements with regards to our 2020 Test-match schedule,’ Clarke said.
‘Our focus is now back where it should be, getting Super Rugby AU up and running next month and watching our five Australian teams go head-to-head in week after week of Aussie derby action.’
Rugby Australia interim CEO Rob Clarke said the next step was to announce the Test-match schedule