Optus circles rugby rights as Shute Shield remains in limbo

RUGBY Australia has yet to secure the rights to the Shute Shield despite Sydney clubs rejecting an offer by Fox Sports to show the tournament, while speculation mounts that the game will soon sign a landmark deal with Optus.

Fox had offered more than $1 million over four years to take the Shute Shield from Channel 7 – which has the rights until 2024 – but RA offered Sydney Rugby Union and NSW Rugby Union $1.4 million as well as guarantees of showing the club matches live on free-to-air television, likely on Network Ten.

The SRU voted unanimously to take RA’S offer over Fox, however RA still hasn’t purchased the rights to the Shute Shield match of the round from owners Club Rugby TV.

The owners of Club Rugby TV, Nick Fordham and John Murray, took over the Shute Shield in 2015 after RA failed to give them funding and now hold the whip hand as RA desperately seeks the rights in order to sell its “whole of game” package when they go to market next week.

Under the current Shute Shield broadcast deal the game of the week must be shown live on free-to-television.

If RA cannot pay Club Rugby TV’S asking price, it will be forced to take its existing package to potential suitors; Wallabies Tests and The Rugby Championship, Super

Rugby and Super W, Sevens, ITM Cup and Currie Cup.

Fox pulled its offer for the Shute Shield for good yesterday, and Fordham said had it not been for its interest the clubs would have suffered.

“Ever since Fox Sports got involved, RA had to match their offer and better it and that’s a win for Sydney club rugby,” Fordham said.

“So the real winner out of this is the Shute Shield and the SRU.

“The whole reason we got into this was to help Sydney club rugby and the money is now genuinely flowing.”

As for the critical looming negotiation with RA, Fordham said: “We’re in discussions with Rugby Australia and there are open lines of communication.”