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Nine and Stan's rugby commentary team has finally been confirmed

3rd February, 2021
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3rd February, 2021
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Rugby fans anxious to hear who’ll be calling the action under the new Australian broadcast deal now know who they’ll be listening to, after Channel Nine and Stan Sport announced their commentary line-up for the Super Rugby season.

As expected, former Fox Sports host Nick McArdle will head up the coverage, joined by fellow host Roz Kelly. Sean Maloney and Andrew Swain will handle play-by-play calling duties for each match between them.

Ex-Wallabies Tim Horan, Drew Mitchell and Justin Harrison, all of whom spent time on Fox’s commentary panel, are on Nine’s team as well, along with former dual-code international Alanna Ferguson, ex-All Black Andrew Mehrtens and retired Wallaby Morgan Turinui. Turinui had been a regular on Channel Ten’s coverage last year.

One notable name missing from the announcement is Sonny Bill Williams. The code-hopping star had been touted as a likely inclusion in Nine’s team to cover both rugby and the NRL, but will not be part of the coverage this year.

The new Super Rugby season kicks off on February 19, when the Reds take on the Waratahs at Suncorp Stadium. One game per round will be shown on free-to-air TV on Channel Nine under the new broadcast deal, with the entire competition, as well as all of Super Rugby Aotearoa, Super Rugby Trans-Tasman, Rugby Championship and Shute Shield and Hospital Cup, available on Stan Sport. Wallabies Tests will, however, still remain on free-to-air TV.

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