Rugby Confidential: Sports entertainment giants Wasserman set to bring their $8bn business clout to Australia

A $8bn giant of sports entertainment, who has music superstars Ed Sheeran and Coldplay among its clients, is coming to Australia with plans to add more league and rugby union stars to its stable.

Wallabies prop Taniela Tupou. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

The behemoth entertainment and sporting group Wasserman has sounded a warning to all rugby and NRL agents in Australia after acquiring Esportif.

In a deal that has just been ratified, Wasserman – valued at nearly $8 billion — will take over the entire Esportif sporting roster that includes Wallabies coach Dave Rennie, superstars Taniela Tupou, Suliasi Vunivalu, and NRL hot shots Xavier Coates, Reece Walsh, Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Isaiah Papali’i.

They have also taken over Esportif’s New Zealand business, giving them All Blacks stars Richie Mo’unga, Will Jordan and Rieko Ioane, as well as cross-code flyer Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.

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The US-based Wasserman, who list among their clients musicians Ed Sheeran, Coldplay and Billie Eilish, as well as global sports stars Russell Westbrook, Klay Thompson, Jamie Vardy and Aussie golfer Cam Smith, have finally made their move into the Australian market, having already established footprints in Europe, North America and South America.

Rugby Confidential understands a key motivation for Wasserman was the awarding of the 2031 Rugby World Cup to the United States, and the looming $200 million private investment into the All Blacks via Silver Lake.

Wallabies star Taniela Tupou.

Australian golfer Cameron Smith is part of the Wasserman group.

Wasserman was recently listed as the second-biggest sports agency in the world by Forbes Magazine, who reported they have $US5.7 billion ($7.9 billion) in contracts and $460 million in commissions.

The company has begun mixing their sport and entertainment clientele for orchestrated campaigns, recently putting a deal together for rapper Jack Harlow to sign with shoe manufacturer New Balance, publicised in a television commercial with Harlow and NBA star Kawhi Leonard.

Wasserman will target other major union and league agencies on both sides of the Tasman, which could see the biggest names in Super Rugby and the NRL joining their stable.

Melbourne Storm and Queensland Origin star Xavier Coates. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

“Wasserman is going to provide resources and capital to become the biggest player in rugby league and rugby union in the southern hemisphere,” Esportif’s Australian director Daniel O’Loughlin said. “And one day, I imagine they’ll also be looking at other codes and sports.

“They clearly want to be the dominant player in league and union here and that is an exciting prospect for us and our agents on the ground, Nash Dawson and Andrew Parata.”

FOLAU SET FOR RETURN

Israel Folau’s Australian rugby comeback is set to be staged in Queensland next month.

Folau has been named in Tonga’s squad, and they have been scheduled to play their World Cup qualifying match on July 23 on the Sunshine Coast.

Tonga will play in the Pacific Nations Cup prior to that – the entire tournament will be played in Fiji.

Folau was controversially sacked by Rugby Australia over social media posts in 2019, a move which sparked a lengthy legal case and confidential multimillion-dollar settlement.

Israel Folau is set to play for Tonga in Australia next month.

He then went to play in the English Super League, before moving to Japanese rugby.

Tongan coach Toutai Kefu named Folau and former All Black Charles Piutau in his squad for the Pacific Nations and World Cup qualifiers – they qualify for Tonga on new eligibility rules.

Tonga will play either Hong Kong, Malaysia or Korea in the July 23 qualifier, with the winner to get into Pool B of the 2023 World Cup in France alongside defending champions South Africa, Ireland, Scotland, and a yet-to-be-determined European nation.

DEANS’ CHEEKY DIG AT JONES

Robbie Deans says Eddie Jones will have to find new tricks to keep his winning streak alive against the Wallabies in July.

Jones has coached England to nine consecutive wins against Australia dating back to 2016, but his side showed signs of decline during this year’s Six Nations campaign, losing three of five games.

In an interview with The Times, former Wallabies coach Deans was asked if Jones needed some tricks up his sleeve to prevail in the three Tests against Dave Rennie’s men.

Owen Farrell of England speaks with England head coach Eddie Jones during training.

“I hope so — he’ll need them,” Deans said. “He will be expecting to win but it won’t be straightforward. I just think to beat Australia in Australia is going to be tough.

“This Australia team is lifting their ambitions. You can only take so much punishment, particularly a proud sporting nation like Australia.

“They were always going to respond. No Australian sportsman is going to stay down for long. They are on the incline.

“They are getting better around the contact area and they’re not going to roll over. They’ll have more depth and ability to ride out injuries and form. They’ve got the ultimate incentive - two World Cups.”

The series kicks off on July 2 in Perth, followed by games in Brisbane (July 9) and Sydney (July 16).