Almost a year after Hamish McLennan pitched the idea of rebooting the Anzac concept against the British and Irish Lions for their highly anticipated series in 2025, Rugby Australia looks set to get their wish as the tour dates were confirmed on Wednesday.
But the concept could still develop further to include involvement from long-time ally South Africa, The Roar understands.
Meanwhile the much-talked-about Super Rugby commission is gathering pace following meetings on Tuesday between Rugby Australia and New Zealand Rugby, as is RA’s private equity bid.
The governing body announced all the fixtures for the 2025 Lions tour on Wednesday, including three Tests as well as an exhibition match featuring an Anzac XV in Adelaide.
As was the case in 2013, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney are set to host the three-Test series. All five Super Rugby franchises are set to meet the Lions in a move that will ease political tensions across the national landscape.
Confirmed Lions dates and venues. Times TBC.
| Fixture | Venue | Kick-off (AEST) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tour games | |||
| Sat, Jun 28 | Lions vs Western Force | Optus Stadium Perth | TBC |
| Wed, Jul 2 | Lions vs Queensland Reds | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane | TBC |
| Sat, Jul 5 | Lions vs NSW Waratahs | Allianz Stadium, Sydney | TBC |
| Wed, Jul 9 | Lions vs ACT Brumbies | GIO Stadium, Canberra | TBC |
| Sat, Jul 12 | Lions vs Invitation XV | Adelaide Oval | TBC |
| Tues, Jul 22 | Lions vs Melbourne Rebels | Marvel Stadium, Melbourne | TBC |
| Test matches | |||
| Sat, Jul 19 | Lions vs Wallabies 1st Test | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane | TBC |
| Sat, Jul 26 | Lions vs Wallabies 2nd Test | MCG, Melbourne | TBC |
| Sat, Aug 2 | Lions vs Wallabies 3rd Test | Accor Stadium, Sydney | TBC |
Wallabies captain James Horwill (R) and Michael Hooper look dejected as the Lions celebrate victory at the final whistle during the International Test match between the Australian Wallabies and British & Irish Lions at ANZ Stadium on July 6, 2013 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
The Roar understands the NZR have supported the Anzac concept but won’t risk players of national interest playing in the unofficial Test given they will host France at the same time the Lions are touring Australia.
Instead, it’s understood, they will support overseas-based New Zealand stars like Richie Mo’unga, who has signed a lucrative three-year deal in Japan, and those not in the frame to wear the All Blacks jersey to feature in the match.
It’s a nice middle ground struck by the respective national unions, particularly given the immense talent leaving the Shaky Isles and heading overseas to Japan.
All Blacks stars like Leicester Fainga’anuku and Sam Whitelock will head to France following the Rugby World Cup, while Shannon Frizell and Aaron Smith will also head to Japan at year’s end.
While the Anzac concept hasn’t been played out since the British and Irish Lions beat them in 1989 at Ballymore, the match could still evolve to include involvement from South Africa. That would bring together the former Sanzaar Unions, who previously competed for the Tri Nations.
Dom Maguire (centre) of the Anzacs receives the ball during the British Lions tour match against the British Lions in Brisbane. (Photo: Russell Cheyne/Allsport, Getty Images)
It’s not the only breaking of bread between the two unions either.
It’s understood new Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh was in New Zealand to start the week, where plenty of ground was covered.
The Super Rugby Pacific commissioner doesn’t yet have a figurehead, but both governing bodies agree it’s imperative to have someone in place, even if it is an interim, by the end of winter.
But the innovative idea of a Super Rugby draft won’t be rushed in, with other matters considered more important for the time being.
Rugby Australia CEO is intent on introducing a cross-over comp between the Sydney and Brisbane club competitions to give players more game-time and close the gap between the amateur and professional levels of the game. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images for Rugby Australia)
How RA gets its players on the field more remains of high importance too, with the governing body acknowledging that New Zealand players on average play double the number of games than its own.
Although it won’t come into fruition this year, RA is looking at introducing an eight-week cross-over competition involving the Shute Shield and Hospital Cup – the two tournaments where the bulk of Australia’s talent comes out of.
The cross-over comp has been on the agenda for the past two years, but Waugh has made it a priority since replacing Andy Marinos.
“It’s a pretty small population, Australia, and if you think about the rugby supporter base, it is based in the communities, it’s based in schools and clubs and we need to connect with where our base is,” Waugh said in his maiden address as RA CEO in June.
“People are now making a choice about whether they go to club games or whether they go to Super Rugby games and when I was playing, you’d go to your club game and then you’d support your club players at the Super Rugby game.
“It’s really important that we actually go back to that and we put our best players and Super players into clubs. Then we bring the club supporters into Super Rugby and into Test matches. I know it sounds pretty logical, but I do think there’s been a huge separation over time.
“So how do we actually connect our rugby community and ensure that the game starts and ends in our clubs, and we need to be invested in that space.”
Newly appointed Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh (R) . (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images for Rugby Australia)
Meanwhile, sources have told The Roar that RA has had sign off on its information pack and the financials relating to its looming private equity bid.
It’s believed an eighth party has come to the table, with another US firm looking for a trophy asset in sport. RA is hoping the competitiveness drives their value up, with the NZR, who signed a $NZ200 million deal last year, watching on closely.
While the governing body has yet to decide whether they will opt for a debt or equity deal, it’s thought that RA will know the path they’re heading down by mid-September.
RA is hoping its private equity deal, coupled with staging the Lions in 2025 and the men’s (2027) and women’s (2029) World Cup, will help power the game forward, regenerate its pathways and grassroots and secure the game’s future.
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
remember reading about how 1 or more players were not to be released by French clubs, i think 2nd div too. cannot find the article, this 1 is a paid subscription but the headline & 1st 2 lines says it all. When you're from the PI & on good coin - it becomes a lose your job & means to support your family or play in the RWC https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2019/08/20/pacific-islanders-mired-club-versus-country-world-cup-row/
Phil
Roar Rookie
Yeah that’s a good point. Something to think about in terms of impact to the fabric of the team if it goes professional.
jeznez
Roar Guru
I think a lot of those volunteers will be at the Subbies clubs that the lower grades are pushed to in your model. Pro clubs will be like Super. I don’t go to a Tahs game happy to see the old familiar faces, I’m a ticket buyer, merchandise buyer. I don’t know the person selling me a meat pie or a beer.
Phil
Roar Rookie
I was a bit reluctant to coach but was one of the best things I’ve done. I reckon those volunteers would still be needed and have a place in the pro game. I agree you wouldn’t want to lose them.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Have to say well done coaching kids. Have done a couple of seasons of it and vastly prefer coaching adults. Yeah, same at Southo’s. I don’t get there as often as I wish but when I do so good to see the old faces. That’s what I love about club rugby and so much of that would be lost if the club became fully pro.
Phil
Roar Rookie
Great stuff. I liked playing there at Forshaw. How cool coaching overseas in HK. That must have been awesome. I coached my sons club team from U9s to U16s. He’s now playing school first XV which is great to watch. Lots of talent around. I went down to watch a Marlins game recently and the same volunteers that were there when I played were still there. What legends.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Southo’s. Played down there most of the 90s. Then when work got serious went to Colleagues. Been offshore for a while now and coached at HKU Sandy Bay. My main team these days are a 10s tournament side we formed while at Colleagues, The BOB’s.
Phil
Roar Rookie
Thanks mate. Which club is yours again? I played colts with Norths and grade with Manly. My son is part of Gordon as he’s grown up in that area.
jeznez
Roar Guru
I think if you ask around the clubs you'll get very different answers. Some want to be the equivalent of NRL or AFL clubs, they want Super rugby replaced and the Tahs/Reds to be the equivalent of State of Origin with just a small series each year. The 2021 Participation Agreement drafted/supported by Uni, Randwick, Easts, Norths, Gordon and Manly had a stated goal to: "Ultimately SRU aim to have the competition be seen at the number one club competition in the Southern Hemisphere." I know my club has much more of a community focus, their focus is playing opportunities.
Phil
Roar Rookie
Thanks Jez. Lots to think about. Would be good if RA shared what the long term goal is with their HC/SS idea. Will have a look further into it and see what some clubs think.
jeznez
Roar Guru
Correction to the figure I posted above. 2m costs is what it costs the highest spending clubs. Brothers in Brisbane for instance - noting this is whole of club and not just rugby first grade. Randwick based on 2018/2019 reports which are available on the web operate on between 940k to 1.3m, again this is whole of club and the 2019 report includes their match vs Argentina, 2018 a better guide at the 940k mark. The draft Participation Agreement that is available on line and was used to remove Penrith from the Shute Shield competition, required minimum annual income for clubs of 550k.
jeznez
Roar Guru
I think cost the biggest hurdle. A Premier club (at least in Sydney) costs around 2m a year to put the teams out. If you professionalise one squad of 35 players at an average salary of 70k a year then you can add 2.5m of costs. And that’s just first grade men. Doesn’t include the women, reserve grade or a colt’s side. I think conservatively it’s a 6m a year proposition even if most of the rest of the club a paid minimal amounts. How many fans does each club need to support that? And to repeat it 47 times? Talent too diluted and too expensive.
Phil
Roar Rookie
Understand what you mean. But by using existing clubs rather than create new clubs might make it possible. How much would the clubs save if they didn’t have to fund all the lower grades and all lower colts teams I wonder? I just feel like so much has been taken from premier clubs since professionalism. And yet they’ve not only survived, but the comp has thrived at times with many preferring to watch them than SR. And I really want them to be the solution. I’d much rather see money spent on existing clubs rather than new clubs. It would take a big investment from somewhere to be able to do it. Anyway really I was just putting it past you for your opinion. I might ask a couple of clubs why it would/wouldn’t work. I’d love to know what they’d think.
Phil
Roar Rookie
See my idea about premier clubs being pro only above.
jeznez
Roar Guru
I just can’t ever see us having the funds to create 47 professional clubs. Would love it if we could have say 18 clubs but feel even that is a stretch. Suspect initially that 12 is about what we could manage. Is why I advocate for retaining Premier comps in their largely amateur/semi-pro state and then having separate teams for the national comp. If we exit Super we can retain Force, Rebels and Brumbies as NRC sides and then in NSW and Qld found the additional sides that would fill out the comp.
Phil
Roar Rookie
Exactly. Except they are pro teams only (maybe starting with men’s and women’s XV, Colts 1, women’s 7s) so don’t include lower grades. So all their resources go into those teams. So they retain the clubs identity and history but are professsional.
robynn
Roar Rookie
I dont think its that complicated. The clubs that are selected (by whatever mechanism) to compete in the "National Premier League" play their 2nd grade in the local Premier Club competition as their "1st grade". If they are that strong they will no have issues with being competitive. If they end up being relegated ( by whatever mechanism) the process reverses
jeznez
Roar Guru
Those separate state comps are surely the existing Premier comps?
Phil
Roar Rookie
Haven’t mentioned that yet. Thinking they would have separate state comps for most of the season and a national comp at the end, possibly with 2 tiers.
jeznez
Roar Guru
I don’t get how a pro comp could be made of all 47 Premier clubs.