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Rugby Australia issue statement following reports Foxtel could dump rugby union

David Pocock walks off the pitch in Oita following Australia's loss to England. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Rugby Australia have issued a statement following reports Foxtel could dump them despite a two decade long relationship.

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The Sydney Morning Herald report that the corporation have withdrawn a five year deal with RA.

The loss of a lucrative contract would be a massive blow for the sport in Australia, whose TV deals already lag far behind the NRL. TV revenue is by far Rugby Australia’s biggest revenue spinner and it effectively underwrites Super Rugby and the Wallabies.

Rugby Australia state:

“In relation to its media rights, Rugby Australia is currently in general discussions with the broader market about the rights for the period for 2021 to 2025.

“No formal negotiations with the broader market have yet taken place.

“Rugby Australia will commence a formal rights offer process at an appropriate time before the end of the current rights period.

“Rugby has had a 25-year partnership with Fox Sports and continues to be in discussions with their key executives.”

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Comments on RugbyPass

J
JW 7 minutes ago
All Blacks squeeze past France to sweep July series in Hamilton

Well I was going to suggest it’s just his unease that you’re noticing (hes still not very familiar and comfortable in the role) but what you described is just how the brain works recalling what you know, and it’s made the note that it indeed should only be seen from a fullback.


He’s in a weird spot at the moment where he won’t run it back with gusto and flair like he used to, and instead awkwardly tries to retain the ball at all costs. This actually makes him even more vulnerable than before and is no doubt a symptom of how the coaches have tried to change him.

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JW 13 minutes ago
All Blacks squeeze past France to sweep July series in Hamilton

for a team that has not played a lot together, with many players trying their best for the first time at test level, you can hardly pivot from your tactics.

Yes, very interesting. I think back to Nicks article about your nine and shifting towards UBB tactics. This series seemed a far cry from that, but also equally adept at the structures they did implement. Around the ruck it was very good discipline, not that NZ is a good carry team but I still thought the picture of how they got up and realigned and kept going was very good. Maybe theres some over reliance on individual flair on attack them, we know weve been on the end of that first had in the three prior losses.


Agreed, especially against the ABs, you can play into there hands sometimes. Much like with England’s even tighter games last year though, in reality the games weren’t that close I don’t believe. 29 to 8 linebreaks for the series for instance.


Yes thank you and the fellow French commentators for engaging in the series on the site, made it so much more interesting, and must get extremely monotonous when the topic returns to same one all the time. Kudos

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BA 14 minutes ago
Wallabies player ratings vs British & Irish Lions | 2025 Lions series

Well if you want to start Big Willy then you might need to start Williams or Hooper at 6 then that really starts to ask where Bobby V fits in, at 8 or off the bench? If he starts at 6 can they go with him Harry snd Big Willy all 3 not being go to guys at a lineout, I wonder if Canham is a Smokey for this test to partner Frost, he looks considerably bigger since super and way bigger since LY, plays really aggressive and did in Reds game

7 Go to comments
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Stephen11 23 minutes ago
Jakkie Cilliers: 'Some ugly perceptions about women’s rugby still exist in South Africa'

What a weird answer. Of course you can blame the uncle for saying that women don't belong in rugby, who’s him to say that? That's misoginy 101. Be real. In regards to the quality of the spectacle, I think the best games in women's rugby are really fun to watch and that the top players are really skilful and physical. I'd even say that I enjoy watching women's rugby more than the men's nowadays: it's more instinctive, les robotic and they can actually form playable scrums that don't have to reset over and over.

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BA 27 minutes ago
All Blacks squeeze past France to sweep July series in Hamilton

Well he got called up on Northern tour from the XV team but didn’t play…has Lam been training as a non squad member this series? I have not seen him in any of the ABs social stuff since Europe

103 Go to comments
J
JW 28 minutes ago
All Blacks squeeze past France to sweep July series in Hamilton

You sound like Razor

103 Go to comments
J
JW 30 minutes ago
All Blacks squeeze past France to sweep July series in Hamilton

But not as dominant as it could have been, and at what detriment to Paddy later in the season, he was simply asked to do too much to win this type of game.

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J
JW 36 minutes ago
All Blacks squeeze past France to sweep July series in Hamilton

Yeah it must be pretty fd up. That was still a personal choice, I think Lam has been involved in the squad ahead of him this month?

103 Go to comments
J
JW 39 minutes ago
‘The chance to inspire people’: Aaron Cummings on India's new RPL

but to elevate. From day one, the emphasis was on development, on giving local Indian players the tools

Ahh, cool. Makes a lot more sense. So the Indians are trying to beat the Sri Lankans no doubt, not sure they’ll be doing that anytime soon thou…

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LW 43 minutes ago
Johnny Sexton admits he's changed his perception of Finn Russell

Finn is a far better player than sexton ever was, better passing game and a genuine creative running threat plus he plays with balls.


Doesn't need to listen to sexton 🤣🤣

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NH 48 minutes ago
Wallabies player ratings vs British & Irish Lions | 2025 Lions series

They all toiled, but comprehensively lost the physicality battle and the lineout. Allan, fraser and wilson stood up, the others (williams in particular) were too passive. Lions had quick ruck ball and gainline dominance all night in attack while the WBs went backwards. I’d start bell and valetini at a minimum and consider skelton, but lineout takes supremacy. get the best hooker and 2nd rows on that will guarantee the lineout and pressure theirs imo. Do that and improve our kick/chase game 5-10% and we will be in the contest.

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JW 52 minutes ago
Kurtley Beale to captain star-studded First Nations & Pasifika XV

Aww poor finn feels excluded, no doubt because he has no identity of his own.


Waa waa they can’t have it if I cant!

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NH 53 minutes ago
Wallabies player ratings vs British & Irish Lions | 2025 Lions series

Allan and Mcreight best on ground for the wallabies followed by Jorgenson and Wilson imo. Backs largely anonymous on attack but that was largely down to lack of go forward and opportunity. As many have alluded to, every wallaby forward put in a huge shift and showed heart, but they were bullied. Frost, Williams, Faessler, Slipper all lost the physicality battle. Wallabies were ok to good in most areas, lions were just better across most if not all of them. 3 work ons - 1) fix the lineout - that stymied any attacking chance and territory the wbs had in the first half. 2) better kick receipt and chase - lions ‘got the bounce of the ball’ too much which is to say they chased better. We need to win more of these 50/50 possessions. 3) physicality - lose the contest, lose the game. WBs simply lost the contact area too often, going backwards in attack and giving the lions quick ball in attack. Bell, Skelton, Tupou, Lukhan, Valetini should all come into contention for the 23 to provide more starch, but imo id pick for the lineout first so that may mean skelton off the bench. Wallabies need to come out firing and attempt to protect a lead, they can’t chase the game. Schmidt often balances the 23, but he needs to go all in with his starters. bell, best lineout hooker, allan, frost, hooper, valetini, mcreight, wilson, tate, lynagh, jorgo, ikitau, suaalii, peitsch, wright, 2nd best lienout hooker, slipper, tupou, skelton, nick CDC, gordon, JOC, kellaway.

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JW 58 minutes ago
Kurtley Beale to captain star-studded First Nations & Pasifika XV

AI Overview

Segregation is the separation of people into distinct groups, often based on race, ethnicity, or other characteristics.

This is the opposite finn, they get to connect with each other, and some it it is shared with us.

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B
BA 1 hour ago
Kurtley Beale to captain star-studded First Nations & Pasifika XV

When I say fan base u only need to watch NRL indigenous games or the success of the League pacific teams not all those fans are necessarily League Fans same would apply to rugby I would guess, but that does not mean that anyone wearing anything that shows support for this team is not going to be wholeheartedly welcome 🙏🏽

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O
Over the sideline 1 hour ago
All Blacks squeeze past France to sweep July series in Hamilton

Jacko you are triggered. Dmac had a great game and it sets off your weird “Jacko” rants.

No Chiefs clean break eh? Seems you not only lose the plot over Chiefs you can’t see straight because of the anger. I watched a great pasd by Dmac to ALB for a beautiful ABs try. Another great kick for the KD try. Genius!!

ABs played great, won a very good match after having maximum Chiefs in it and you got TRIGGERED.

Jacki if it triggers you so much just move past my posts. That’s allowed.

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BA 1 hour ago
Kurtley Beale to captain star-studded First Nations & Pasifika XV

It is an acknowledgment of the culture not the blood to play for this team you don’t need to be such a % and a acknowledgment the different cultures exist within a nation and representing peoples whose culture doesn’t already get given a place today and historically

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Over the sideline 1 hour ago
Ardie Savea’s unorthodox pre-Test message to Du'Plessis Kirifi

France have a terrible record v NZ either in France or in NZ. The rest is pure opinion and I disagree with a fair bit

18 Go to comments
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fl 1 hour ago
Kurtley Beale to captain star-studded First Nations & Pasifika XV

Qualification for this team is determined by blood quantum, not culture.


If they get a good fan base from a large population that would be extremely disappointing. I wouldn’t support an indigenous anglo-saxon team, because despite being an indigenous anglo-saxon, I’m not racist!


What “acknowledgement” do you want ppl to get? Taniela Tupou and Kurtley Beale get a lot of acknowledgement for what they contribute to australian rugby, on the basis of what they bring as individuals and as players. Their race shouldn’t come into it.

8 Go to comments
S
Stephen11 1 hour ago
Scott Robertson's disappointing Ruben Love decision

Hamish Bidwell is always complaining about something.

62 Go to comments
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