News Wrap | Saturday, May 9th | new Rugby Comp, NRL broadcast deal imminent, 7 Worries about Olympics

ARU and Rugby Union

• Rugby Australia is forging ahead with a domestic competition restart in July that will include the Western Force.

Broadcasting

• Rugby faces financial collapse as Optus and Fox Sports turn their back on the struggling code, leaving the game with few if any options for broadcasting beyond 2020.
• The big question doing the rounds in the Channel 7 bunker as they nervously look ahead to 2021 is whether the continued spread of the coronavirus pandemic could sideline the Olympics once again?
• Optus has hosed down suggestions it was close to signing a broadcast deal with Rugby Australia (RA) before coronavirus hit, and gave the code more bad news by saying it won’t be looking to acquire local sports rights in the short term.
• The A-League is exploring the possibility of taking control of its broadcast production, a move that could see the sport emerge as an innovator among the football codes in Australia and provide greater flexibility in how it sells its rights.

Cricket

• Kevin Roberts’ position appears safe for the next 18 months as he fights to revive Australia’s cricketing finances, and his own fortunes.

NRL and Rugby League

• Paul Kent has revealed an NRL staffer made changes to a document after it had been given government approval, which has led to the anti-vax furore engulfing the game.
• The NRL may revert to one on-field referee to save money.
• Acting NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo has organised a phone hook-up with club bosses next week to give them greater insight into the game’s finances amid heightened optimism that a breakthrough with the broadcasters could be only days away.

International

• New Zealand Rugby has engaged in talks with a multi-billion-dollar American investment firm about taking a stake in the struggling sport.