Rugby in $ 100m Nine deal

FOX Sports said rugby’s decline in popularity had forced it to “maintain discipline” in its pitch to the code, after Nine Entertainment signed a $ 100m broadcast deal to be the new home of union from 2021.

Nine’s three- year package will include the establishment of streaming service Stan Sport, which will charge Stan customers extra for watching rugby games.

Nine will show all Wallabies Tests, plus one game of Super Rugby each weekend on freeto- air, as well as some Shute Shield games per year.

It’s expected that other Rugby Championship Tests not involving Australia will be behind the Stan Sports paywall, as will Wallaroos games, and most Sydney and Brisbane club rugby.

Nine Entertainment offered more cash to Rugby Australia than Fox Sports, and so the 25year y association between News Corporation and rugby, which started when the game turned professional in 1996, will finish after the final Tri Nations match between the Wallabies and Argentina on December 5.

RA’s board agreed unanimously last Thursday to take the game to Nine.

Foxtel Group chief executive Patrick Delany said: “We have enjoyed a 25- year relationship with rugby during which we’ve supported Rugby Australia during challenging phases as well as famous victories and great success.

“On the field performances and off the field challenges have seen a decline in rugby’s popularity with fans over the past five years.”

RA gets more money domestically in this deal than in their existing deal, however the final sum when computing overseas rights is expected to fall much shorter than the current $ 57m a year.