The standoff between Rugby Australia and New Zealand Rugby is edging towards a resolution.
A Super Rugby deal is expected to be reached between the trans-Tasman neighbours early next month.
NZR chief executive Mark Robinson, who was joined by NZR players’ association boss Rob Nichol, flew to Sydney last Monday to meet with their counterparts at Rugby Australia headquarters in Moore Park.
While a deal was not signed off, progress was made to secure the competition’s future beyond next year.
For months, RA has been pushing for a more equitable financial relationship. NZR’s broadcast deal with Sky Sport is worth more than $90m – almost three times as much as RA’s.
As such, RA, which almost went bankrupt at the onset of Covid-19 and has been swimming upstream for years, had been pushing for a 50-50 split.
Any new deal will not guarantee an equal split until 2026, as RA gets its ducks in a row while it prepares to host the Rugby World Cup (2027) and Lions tour (2025).
It is hoped that an official announcement will be made next month now that the often fractious relationship between the two unions has thawed.
A deal will be welcomed by Super Rugby franchises on both sides of the ditch because long-term sponsorship deals are difficult to nail down given the uncertainty of the competition’s future.
The appearance of the highly respected Nichol at the meeting at RA headquarters was seen as a strong sign that progress was being made.
Nichol is close to two-time World Cup-winning captain Richie McCaw, as well as 1987 World Cup-winning skipper David Kirk, and has been a key figure in New Zealand, particularly since the onset of the pandemic and the private equity deal with Silver Lake.
News of the impending deal came as whispers grew of New Zealand interest in Major League Rugby side LA Giltinis.
The Giltinis, who were previously owned by F45’s Adam Gilchrist, are closing in on their own deal to secure their future in the American MLR competition after they were suddenly booted out during last year’s finals series along with Austin Gilgronis.
It’s understood Gilchrist’s Austin side breached the salary cap and the MLR competition responded by expelling both sides. It has left the Giltinis scrambling for new ownership.
But with the US set to host the 2031 World Cup, the NZR could be looking to set up partnerships with MLR teams, which has led to speculation it could be interested in taking a stake with the Giltinis.
It could also help the NZR down the track should it wish to break away and form its own competition.
RA previously threw up the possibility of every major union supporting a team in developing competitions.
Already the Queensland Reds have a partnership with Japanese heavyweights Panasonic Wild Knights, while the Melbourne Rebels recently played against Kintetsu.
The NSW Waratahs have also just signed a deal with the Sanix Blues.
