Trans-Tasman Super Rugby clashes 'one of the models that we are working through at the moment'
The prospect of trans-Tasman rugby battles including Bledisloe Cup tests resuming this year have received another boost.
Rugby Australia's under-pressure chief executive Raelene Castle says in a Sydney Morning Herald report that there are "consistent discussions" with her New Zealand counterparts.
Like all sports, rugby faces an uncertain future because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But Castle's three-point plan to keep ailing Australian rugby afloat appears to include a quick return to transtasman matches.
This would probably require a change to quarantine restrictions but Castle appeared hopeful of the Wallabies and All Blacks resuming battle.
The SMH reported that "encouraging progress in containing the pandemic in Australia and New Zealand has given weight to the theory that trans-Tasman club matches and Bledisloe Tests will be played later this year".
Castle was reported as saying: "That's certainly one of the models that we are working through at the moment.
"We remain in consistent discussions with New Zealand because, obviously, that makes a lot of sense.
"The indications we're getting with government agencies is that the sequence of opening up (borders) is likely to be domestic first, then into trans-Tasman, then into Asia Pacific, so we have a number of different scenarios to look at and that is currently one of them."
The full force of the pandemic struck just as RA was about to sign a big broadcasting deal with Optus.
Castle is hopeful a new deal and World Rugby loans of $16m will come to her sport's rescue. She believes negotiations wth Optus can resume before the end of the financial year.
"Castle must also find a way to put a product back on field to ensure Foxtel and Channel Ten have no reason to pull any future payments," the SMH reported, citing the trans-Tasman fixtures.
Foxtel, Channel Ten and BSkyB signed a five year $285m deal with RA Australia in 2015. But the predicted price of any new deal had already dropped significantly before the virus struck.
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The author is 100% right. The Springboks know that they don't have near the natural attraction, mana, skill and mystic the All Blacks have. So, Chasing the sun 1 & 2 was concocted to overblow the Boks image on the back of a corruptly obtained “win". It's marketing ploy to force the Boks delusion as the World's Best. I guess World Rugby is also not to be believed when it came out with an apology about how the final was officiated. And if the 2023 final such a superb game by the Boks, then the Boks crying about Referee Bryce Lawrence for decades is also deserves a laugh. Chase the sun and get burned like a moth. A very well written literary piece that tore the Boks and Chasing the sun farce to shreds. 🖤All Blacks🏉
Go to commentsDad Marty was also a handy rugby player for Linwood back in the day. Great bloke. Sensational softball career.
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