Australia won’t share Rugby World Cup with NZ despite trans-Tasman Super Rugby deal

If New Zealand thought they’d get to share the 2027 World Cup with Australia - should the bid win - after the two boards kissed and made up they’re wrong. Here’s why.

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 28: The Brumbies walk off after the warm up session prior to the round nine Super Rugby AU match between the Brumbies and the Western Force at GIO Stadium on August 28, 2020 in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

While last week’s public kiss and make up between the Australian and New Zealand rugby boards at Manly Beach has guaranteed there will be a mutually beneficial trans-Tasman tournament from 2021, the chances of both countries co-hosting the 2027 World Cup are almost dead in the water.

RA’s new chairman Hamish McLellan had floated the idea of letting New Zealand host a pool as an olive branch when the two rival boards were still feuding with each other, but now that the war is over, the commercial realities have sunk in that a joint World Cup just isn’t viable.

The beancounters have done their sums on a variety of options that might have enabled New Zealand to stage some matches but the numbers just don’t add up.

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Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan and executive director of Rugby World Cup 2027 bid Phil Kearns. Photo: Stuart Walmsley

The economic loss of staging an entire pool in New Zealand has been calculated at $160 million while just having the All Blacks play their matches at home would result in a loss of $60 million.

Compounding those problems is that World Rugby’s top brass have made it clear their strong preference is for a single country host while the federal government has just chipped in $8.8 million to support the bid on the understanding that it will deliver a windfall to Australia, as Prime Minister Scott Morrison told Rugby Confidential: “The business and economics of events are no-brainer.”

All the goodwill in the world won’t make up for any financial shortfall so the chances of both countries hosting the event are unrealistic even though Australia’s high-powered bid team is keeping an open mind by adopting the approach that you “never say never”.

Players are still waiting for clarity on their pay.

CONTRACT CONCERNS

PLAYERS and Super Rugby franchises are eagerly awaiting clarity on pay and squad sizes as Rugby Australia and the players’ union discuss the way forward.

The existing contracts expire on November 30, after which date Super Rugby players - who agreed to a 30 per cent pay cut - expect to return to full pay.

However, there has been no guarantee of this yet. Also, Super franchises are unclear if they may need to trim squad sizes in order to keep costs down.

The clock is ticking on final resolutions as the franchises return to the training paddock for off-season work.

Greg Growden in 2003.

FAREWELL GROWDY

THE untimely passing of rugby journalist Greg Growden has been met with a global outpouring of sadness, with identities from several countries making touching tributes.

Growden, 60, passed away last weekend after a battle with cancer.

He is being remembered as one of the finest sports journalists Australia has produced, working at The Sydney Morning Herald and ESPN across six decades covering rugby, while authoring several books on various subjects.

His funeral service was attended by Wallabies legends David Campese and Mark Ella, and there will be an invitation-only memorial service held for him in Sydney next week.

Originally published as Australia won’t share Rugby World Cup with NZ despite trans-Tasman Super Rugby deal