Rugby League
- Fairfax reports that the Rugby League players’ association wants its members to be granted a guaranteed percentage share much like cricketers receive under their agreement with Cricket Australia, which is controversially endeavouring to grant only its leading men’s stars a continued piece of the revenue pie under a new deal with players.
- The Cowboys have signed UBET as a major partner on a multi-year deal, which will see the club join other national sporting clubs in the AFL and A-League to affiliate with the premier betting provider as a corporate partner.
Rugby Union
- Fairfax reports that the ARU board has yet to make a determination on the future of its Super Rugby franchises. Any hopes of a final decision coming then, however, have also dimmed, after it emerged a trumpeted strategic review of the competition will not be finalised until May or June. Any change to the competition will need to attract a unanimous vote among the eight members of the committee.
- The Australian notes that its a decision that, in many ways, is out of the ARU’s hands.
- News Limited reports that the Brumbies will survive in Super Rugby as long as they marry on-field success with financial sustainability, according to ARU chief operating officer Rob Clarke. While the Western Force and Melbourne Rebels are the two Australian franchises most at risk if the number of teams is reduced, the Brumbies off-field turmoil in the past year has led to some fears the ACT club could be on the chopping block.
- The West Australian reports that the Western Force have vowed to step up the battle for their future after being left in limbo by the Australian Rugby Union who have refused to reveal plans for their five Super Rugby franchises. Force chief executive Mark Sinderberry said the uncertainty would make the club fight harder for survival.
Soccer
- The players’ union is due to release a road map that envisages the top 60 players in the W-League being paid a minimum of $60,000 a year. News Limited reports that the plan includes – The addition of a 10th W-League team; introduction of a minimum $11,500 W-League salary; the appointment of a head of talent management to negotiate centralised contracts, incorporating Matildas, overseas and local employment.
- News Limited reports that Brisbane Roar will save themselves $40,000 by only opening three of Suncorp Stadium’s four stands when they host Thai champions Muangthong United.
- SBS reports that Optus’ improved subscriber base can in part be attributed to the take up of its EPL offering after reports reports Optus added 201,000 new post-paid handset customers between July and December 2016, while fierce rival Telstra added 79,000 in comparison. The result was Optus’ best in six years.
AFL
- The West reports that East Perth have built a war chest of more than $1 million that would allow the club to break away from West Coast at the end of their existing alignment deal. The return comes as the Royals enter the final two seasons of their alignment agreement with West Coast and with the future of the partnership model being assessed.
