Rugby Australia chairman Dan Herbert says he is “not concerned” by long-time allies New Zealand and South Africa cozying up with one another despite their long-time allies preparing to announce regular tours of the two nations.
In a move that will see the Wallabies sidelined like the ugly duckling, the two-time world champions will watch on as their former Tri-Nations allies South Africa and New Zealand prepare to embark on long British and Irish Lions-esque eight-match tours every four years.
It means RA, who at the same time are working towards announcing a new annual Anzac fixture between the Wallabies and All Blacks, will be forced into playing against lesser quality nations, including Japan and Fiji, as they watch their former great foes battle it out.
The move is expected to be a massive money spinner, with South Africa Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer running with the working title of the “Greatest Rugby Rivalry” to sell the series between last year’s World Cup finalists – the Springboks and All Blacks, the two nations who have claimed the past five Webb Ellis Cups between them.
While confirmation is expected following further meetings later this month between SA Rugby and New Zealand Rugby, Oberholzer was bullish on the new series – which could see the Wallabies left with single Tests against the Springboks as part of a truncated TRC – or as stand alone games against the back-to-back world champions – in 2026 and every four years after.
“It’s a working title, although some people might say it is arrogant to say that. We have signed a memorandum of understanding and we are in the planning phases now,” said Oberholzer.
“We have a draft schedule that must still be agreed. We met with the commercial brokers to set the commercial property, and the sponsorship matrix and we will go to market in due course.”
2023 World Cup finalists, the Springboks and All Blacks are gearing up to tour each other every four years. (Photo by David Davies/PA Images via Getty Images)
The proposal is for the long tours to take place every four years alternating between the two countries.
The All Blacks would play the four United Rugby Championship sides in the first eight-week tour in 2026 as well as the SA ‘A’ team and three Test matches.
A fourth Test would be played at a neutral venue, with Twickenham or the United States touted as potential hosts.
“It is a collaboration of two unions that have agreed to work together off the field,” Oberholzer told reporters.
“Let’s fight on the field and work off the field for the betterment of both unions. We have such a challenge with funding, so we have to create our own opportunities and that is where we are at the moment.
“In principle, everything’s in order and the hard work starts now.
“We have to do ticket pricing for example. We will probably follow the Lions model by starting around the coast, coming back, playing the Test matches – three Test matches in South Africa – and one out of South Africa before the series starts.
“Having staged sellout matches over the past two years against the All Blacks and Wales at Twickenham, London may have seemed the obvious destination in 2026, but the Women’s Rugby World Cup will be played in the UK at the same time.”
Allan Alaalatoa of the Wallabies runs with the ball during The Rugby Championship match between Australia Wallabies and South Africa Springboks at Suncorp Stadium on August 10, 2024 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)
There is some confusion over the two unions plans for the 2026 TRC.
Oberholzer said “The Rugby Championship will still happen but it will probably be a single round, which we are pushing for.” It was reported that New Zealand was making the case for the TRC not to be played at all in two years time.
“If it is not going to happen, SA Rugby confirmed with Argentina and Australia to play one-off Test matches against them. That is a discussion that we need finally in the second week of September,” Oberholzer said.
RA chairman Herbert, who won the World Cup in 1999 with the Wallabies, acknowledged they were watching on closely but weren’t concerned about the unfolding moves.
“We’re not concerned at all,” Herbert told The Roar.
“It’s a natural evolution of a proven concept, NZ and SANZAAR have made us aware of the discussions.
“It’s new and exciting content for the rugby market and we look forward to announcing our own new content in the near future, which will bring more excitement and eyeballs to rugby.”
Part of that “new and exciting content” is an annual Anzac Test.
The concept has been spoken about for years but has only recently started to get more headway.
RA had hoped that an Anzac Test on Australian shores would get off the ground in 2025, but the NZR isn’t as keen to jump into the fixture so suddenly because it would interfere with their Super Rugby franchises.
Nonetheless, after years of dilly-dallying on the idea, it’s likely to become part of the annual international calendar.
Whether or not it occurs during The Rugby Championship remains to be seen, with the southern hemisphere tournament likely to move earlier in the year to be aligned with the north’s Six Nations. By doing so, it will also make it easier to include the Nations Championship as part of the global calendar.
Either way, the respective trans-Tasman unions both see the benefit of having an Anzac fixture to draw more eyeballs on the XV-man game.
The concept comes at a time when both unions are anxious and conscious of the need to provide as much compelling content as possible to attract the highest deal from prospective broadcasters