On the eve of the All-Kiwi Super Rugby Pacific final between the Blues and Crusaders a ‘bombshell’ has been dropped by Rugby Australia to their New Zealand Rugby counterparts
Fox Sports Australia reports Rugby Australia will ‘consider their options’ after the current partnership agreement expires after 2023, including ditching Super Rugby Pacific in order to move towards a domestic-only model much like the AFL and NRL.
Rugby Australia’s chairman Hamish McLennan says they will honour their commitments in 2023 but they need to see what’s best for rugby in Australia leading up to the Rugby World Cup in Australia in 2027.
McLennan adds ‘all bets are off from 2024 onwards with NZ.”
He further says there are thoughts that a domestic-only product could be financially more successful for Rugby Australia in the crowded Australian sports market.
Losing the Australian teams would be a major blow for Super Rugby in New Zealand, who have just secured investment from Silver Lake to shore up their finances and improve the commercial viability of their product.
It is unclear whether a New Zealand-only competition would aid that goal with less fixtures to broadcast while the All Blacks could eventually suffer after seeing a lack of different playing styles.
Source: Rugby Pass
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