The broadcast rights for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia are not covered under the new deal. Photo: supplied
Rugby Australia has renewed its TV broadcast deal with Nine for five more years, worth $215 million.
The new deal will cover all Wallabies and Wallaroos Test matches up to 2030 but outside the Rugby World Cup, all Super Rugby men and women’s matches, all SANZAAR Tests and the new Nations Cup tournament (once formalised), and all Shute Shield and Hospital Cup matches at least through to 2027.
Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh says the deal is a strong vote of confidence in rugby union in this country.
“In a challenging global media market, it is encouraging to see the value of Australian rugby content increasing,” he says.
“The future of Australian rugby is bright and our growth trajectory is strong.”
RA chairman Daniel Herbert says the new deal is timely with the British and Irish Lions tour this year followed by the men’s (2027) and women’s (2029) world cups and expires just before the Brisbane Olympics (sevens) in 2032.
“There is much positivity around Australian rugby in 2025 …,” Herbert says.
Nine chief executive Matt Stanton says they were “thrilled” to sign the new deal at a time when live sport is driving strong growth across streaming and free-to-air audiences.
IN THE DETAILS
Waugh says the broadcast deal, reported at $215m, could increase as much as 40 per cent (up to $240m) with a clause linking performance to bonuses.
A contractual obligation for Nine show at least one Super Rugby game live a week on free TV has been removed.
Waugh is optimistic that some games will remain on free-to-air in future.
“It’s north of a 30 per cent increase on the guaranteed amount (from last deal) through the next cycle, and if we hit our incentives then we’ll be north of 40 per cent,” he says of the deal.
“In terms of the actual guaranteed amount, I think to have an outcome of greater than 30 per cent on the last cycle allows us to invest in the game ….”
One game per week from the Shute Shield (Sydney) and Hospital Cup (Brisbane) domestic competitions is to be shown on free-to-air TV.
