STAN sign $240m media rights extension with Rugby Australia

STAN has signed a $210m (and valued at up to $240 million) media rights extension with Rugby Australia that will see all Super Rugby on STAN, as well as international fixtures. This represents a 30-40% increase on the current deal and runs through 2030.

“A really easy and simple way to put it is that it’s north of 30% increase on the guaranteed amount through the next cycle, and if we hit our incentives then we’ll be north of 40%,” said Waugh.

Waugh confirmed that whilst there was no contractual obligation to broadcast Super Rugby Pacific on free-to-air, discussions were set to happen with his Nine Network counterparts around how to maintain some presence.

The new broadcast deal, subject to final ratification from SANZAAR, covers:

All Wallabies and Wallaroos Test matches through 2030 outside of Rugby World Cup competition
All Super Rugby Pacific and Super Rugby Women’s matches
All SANZAAR Tests and the new Nations Cup tournament (once formalised),
All Shute Shield and Hospital Cup matches at least through to 2027.

As part of the renewed partnership, rugby fans can look forward to:

Comprehensive coverage of Super Rugby Pacific, Super Rugby Women’s, and key Rugby Australia Test matches – including the Wallabies, Wallaroos, Bledisloe Cup, and The Rugby Championship fixtures – along with highlights, mini matches, and full match replays. All available live and on-demand on Stan Sport, with select matches in 4K Ultra HD.
Exclusive behind-the-scenes content and innovations to bring fans closer to the game, including through Stan Sport’s exclusive bespoke rugby shows that bring the game to life seven days a week.

Rugby Australia will bank an extra $65 million in a new five-year broadcast rights deal with Nine Entertainment. Nine’s previous deal with RA was worth around $150 million, meaning RA will see an uplift from around $30 million a year to around $43 million a year. RA could also pocket significant extra cash if the Wallabies and men’s teams in Super Rugby Pacific win more games, as part of new incentives built into the deal.

RA will be given bonuses of millions per year if the Wallabies can claim victory in trophy matches including the Bledisloe Cup and World Cup, as well as Australian teams winning in Super Rugby, that can yield them a further $25 million over the five-year cycle.

The deal includes the new Nations Cup, but the agreement does not include broadcast rights for the 2027 men’s and 2029 women’s Rugby World Cups. Fans will be able to access content through digital, publishing, and audio assets.

In Sydney and Brisbane, one game per round in the Shute Shield and the Hospital Cup will be shown on free-to-air in their respective cities.

Since the beginning of the partnership in 2021, Rugby Australia and Nine have worked together to elevate the profile of rugby across Australia, significantly growing audiences – up 11% on Stan and 17% on Nine year-on-year – and delivering unforgettable and entertaining moments at all levels of the game.

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