Late Australian lobbying saves Rugby Championship from the chop

1 month ago 7

Eleventh-hour lobbying from Australia has seen the Rugby Championship saved from the chopping block, with plans to replace the tournament in 2028 with a series of inter-SANZAAR tours scrapped and replaced with a strategy of long-term continuity.

The news was contained in a SANZAAR release on Thursday, in which a five-year schedule confirmed the Rugby Championship will be played in full in 2027, 2028 and 2029.

The future of the Rugby Championship came under a cloud last month after this masthead revealed the tournament would not only go into hiatus in 2026 and 2030, to accommodate reciprocal tours between New Zealand and South Africa, but likely in 2028 as well.

Discussions between SANZAAR partners New Zealand, South Africa, Australia and Argentina had seen a proposal for the 2028 Rugby Championship to be substituted with two three-Test series between select rivals.

That would have seen, for example, the Wallabies either head to New Zealand for three Tests or host the All Blacks, followed by a similar arrangement with either South Africa or Argentina.

According to sources with knowledge of the discussions, who are unable to comment publicly due to confidentiality, the change was driven by South Africa and New Zealand’s desire for more “scarcity” of their Test clashes, which would thus strengthen the value of their tours in 2026 and 2030.

Joseph‑Aukuso Suaalii runs against the All Blacks.

Rugby Australia was never a big fan and that attitude hardened when this year’s Rugby Championship turned out to be one of the most competitive and engaging in recent years, with the Wallabies beating South Africa and Argentina downing the All Blacks.

At a meeting in London last month, Rugby Australia boss Phil Waugh lobbied his SANZAAR counterparts to keep the tournament unchanged in 2028, according to informed sources.

That lobbying proved successful, with SANZAAR officials confirming at an executive committee meeting that the Rugby Championship will keep its position of primacy in the Southern Hemisphere calendar.

The full tournament, not a truncated version, will even be played in 2027 ahead of the Rugby World Cup in Australia. In past World Cup years, the four teams have only played each other once but after Rugby Australia successfully lobbied for the 2027 World Cup to start later (on October 1) to avoid NRL and AFL finals, there is ample time for two rounds to be played.

Los Pumas celebrate their historic victory over the All Blacks in Buenos Aires last month.

The SANZAAR calendar doesn’t make mention of New Zealand’s seven-match tour of South Africa next year – humbly titled the “Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry” tour – but an announcement is expected in coming days.

Fixtures are still being finalised but the Wallabies are expected to still play against all three Southern Hemisphere rivals in 2026, but there will not be a formal TRC contested. The same structure will exist in 2030.

In a statement, Waugh said: ”“The SANZAAR partnership has played an important role in growing the popularity and prosperity of rugby worldwide and Rugby Australia is excited to enter into a new five-year cycle alongside our great rivals South Africa, New Zealand and Argentina.

“We are particularly looking forward to the Southern Hemisphere’s pre-eminent tournament, The Rugby Championship, playing in full in 2027, 2028 and 2029 along with a new, thrilling era of Bledisloe Cup, Mandela Challenge Plate and Puma Trophy competition.”

SANZAAR boss Brendan Morris said the new five-year schedule was “innovative”.

“By collaborating closely with our Unions and valued broadcasting and commercial partners, we’ve developed an innovative calendar designed to deliver thrilling rugby experiences and set new benchmarks for the game in the years to come,” SANZAAR chief executive Brendan Morris said in a release.

“This new calendar for Southern Hemisphere rugby is all about bringing to the fans the highest level of world-class rugby and action. Indeed, after listening to what supporters, broadcasters and our stakeholders want, we’ve worked with the Unions to craft a bold and dynamic schedule designed to deliver unforgettable moments every year.

“The future of Southern Hemisphere rugby is brighter than ever. Our member unions have a proud record on the international stage and SANZAAR believes this new calendar will assist in strengthening this record, while delivering to the fans unparalleled excitement and access to the world’s best rugby.”