The turbulent Israel Folau cloud will hover over Raelene Castles head for some time. But Rugby Australias chief executive has several other major issues she also has to be right on top of. While the Folau issue has divided Australian rugby, the threat of Foxtel substantially cutting rugbys lush broadcasting revenue from 2021 has the potential to cripple the code.
Full slate: Rugby Australia boss Raelene Castle still has plenty of issues to keep her up at night.Credit:AP
Australian rugbys prime revenue source for several decades has been from pay TV broadcasting rights deals, which have enabled the Wallabies to enjoy healthy, sometimes over-inflated salaries. But Australian rugby has dropped well behind the AFL and NRL, with pay TV rugby viewer numbers far from healthy and the Wallabies slumping to sixth in the world rankings. It will require shrewd negotiations from Castle, RA chairman Cameron Clyne and their advisers to convince Foxtel to not turn their back on them.
If there are dramatic cuts, a massive hit on the games finances is inevitable. After Foxtel announced a $417 million loss for 2018, its controlling shareholder, News Corp, indicated cuts to the broadcasters spending on "non-marquee sporting content". One could currently have a vigorous debate over whether rugby is a marquee or non-marquee sport. Further confusing the issue is World Rugbys ever-changing contentious Nations Championship global proposal.
Then there is the fight for the 2027 Rugby World Cup hosting rights. Australia are receiving federal government funding for a 2027 bid, but Castle and co face a tough battle convincing World Rugby heavies they would be the best host. The opposition, scheduled to include South Africa which brutally missed out on the 2023 World Cup and an anticipated South-North America bid, will be hard to topple. In the process, Australia could again lose face. More testing times loom for RA.
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Caped Crusaders
Cape Town remains the Venus flytrap location for visiting Super Rugby and international teams. The Crusaders are the latest to get caught up in allegations of unsavoury behaviour during their recent trip to the city. Over the years, numerous Australian teams have been embroiled in Cape Town fiascos. There was the 2000 ACT taxi affair, where several Brumbies were involved in an altercation with a local taxi driver.
Five years later, Wallabies halfback Matt Henjak became the first Wallabies player to be sent home from a tour in 39 years following a Cape Town bar-room dispute with teammates. A few days later, a Cape Town newspaper took delight in publishing a completed Wallaby player questionnaire left behind in a restaurant, which revealed that some wouldnt mind eating each other if they were forced to cannibalism after a plane crash. That produced several days of damning headlines.
The Waratahs have also had their embarrassing boozy Cape Town moments. Cape Town is a spectacular city, but for the unsuspecting one with many potholes. For visiting rugby teams –
best to fly in, play, and then fly straight out.
I dont know any team thats only given six penalties away in three games.
Steve Hansen on the Lions' recent penalty counts
Too good to be true
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen echoed the thoughts of many when asked about the Lions being a near faultless team when playing at home in Johannesburg. In the last three games against Australian and New Zealand teams, the Lions have enjoyed a 43-6 penalty count leg-up from South African referees. Hansen said this week: “I dont know any team thats only given six penalties away in three games. Im not saying the penalties theyre giving arent right, but theyre obviously missing a few.” All of this revives the push for neutral referees, which is unlikely to happen, but something has to be done. It wRead More – Source
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