Post by Druzik on Aug 6, 2009 8:48:11 GMT 10
www.rleague.com/db/index.php?id=91049&t=8
INTERNATIONAL Rugby League is about to get what it should have had 10 years ago - centralised sponsorship, licencing and broadcast rights deals.
Discord can take you inside last week's Rugby League International Federation meeting in Singapore and tell you exactly what that mysterious "strategic plan for the future" entails.
Australia is pushing for the RLIF to finally take over the selling of sponsorships for tournaments such as the Four Nations, after the shambles of Coca-Cola allegedly pulling out of backing this year's series because of the Matthew Johns drama in Australia.
Britain's Rugby Football League had to accept Gillette as this year's naming rights sponsor even though that company had earlier said it would relinquish the position and concentrate on backing England.
I understand the figure Gillette is paying is considerably less than the RFL could have received if it held out a little longer.
It was also made clear in Singapore to Britain, Australia and New Zealand delegates that internationals must be left out of future domestic television rights deals so that those properties can be sold by the RLIF.
In case you missed it, the opening match of the Four Nations will now not be Australia-New Zealand on October 24 but England-France on Friday, October 23. England-France has been moved from Sunday to Friday night to suit Sky. England-Australia on October 31 has been slotted in for a rare Saturday afternoon kick-off, at 2.30pm.
We can also tell you that a television issue could result in New Zealand's matches being played in the afternoon or on Friday nights. The Kiwis are yet to sell their Four Nations TV rights and Sunday advertising restrictions mean it may be more profitable for their matches to take place before midnight Saturday, NZ time.
Orange TV have the French rights, Channel Nine in Australia. The Kiwis' warm-up match will be against Tonga at a venue outside Auckland, perhaps on Thursday night, October 15. Australia's only preparation will be the Prime Minister's XIII game in Port Moresby on September 27.
One New Zealand and two Australian referees will join the Four Nations match officials panel, with Thierry Alibert representing France and two Englishmen to be appointed.
International eligability was also discussed last week with a feeling expressed that most members of the public would have preferred FuiFui MoiMoi to have been allowed to play for Tonga in the World Cup. That is good news for the likes of Jarryd Hayne, Michael Jennings and Neville Costigan, who may be allowed to take part in Origin but still play for their second country of choice if they miss out on Australian selection.
There has, however, been no final ruling on these players with regard to this year's Pacific Cup.
INTERNATIONAL RL TO GET CENTRALISED DEALS & MUCH MORE
Wednesday 5 Aug 2009
by Steve Mascord
by Steve Mascord
INTERNATIONAL Rugby League is about to get what it should have had 10 years ago - centralised sponsorship, licencing and broadcast rights deals.
Discord can take you inside last week's Rugby League International Federation meeting in Singapore and tell you exactly what that mysterious "strategic plan for the future" entails.
Australia is pushing for the RLIF to finally take over the selling of sponsorships for tournaments such as the Four Nations, after the shambles of Coca-Cola allegedly pulling out of backing this year's series because of the Matthew Johns drama in Australia.
Britain's Rugby Football League had to accept Gillette as this year's naming rights sponsor even though that company had earlier said it would relinquish the position and concentrate on backing England.
I understand the figure Gillette is paying is considerably less than the RFL could have received if it held out a little longer.
It was also made clear in Singapore to Britain, Australia and New Zealand delegates that internationals must be left out of future domestic television rights deals so that those properties can be sold by the RLIF.
In case you missed it, the opening match of the Four Nations will now not be Australia-New Zealand on October 24 but England-France on Friday, October 23. England-France has been moved from Sunday to Friday night to suit Sky. England-Australia on October 31 has been slotted in for a rare Saturday afternoon kick-off, at 2.30pm.
We can also tell you that a television issue could result in New Zealand's matches being played in the afternoon or on Friday nights. The Kiwis are yet to sell their Four Nations TV rights and Sunday advertising restrictions mean it may be more profitable for their matches to take place before midnight Saturday, NZ time.
Orange TV have the French rights, Channel Nine in Australia. The Kiwis' warm-up match will be against Tonga at a venue outside Auckland, perhaps on Thursday night, October 15. Australia's only preparation will be the Prime Minister's XIII game in Port Moresby on September 27.
One New Zealand and two Australian referees will join the Four Nations match officials panel, with Thierry Alibert representing France and two Englishmen to be appointed.
International eligability was also discussed last week with a feeling expressed that most members of the public would have preferred FuiFui MoiMoi to have been allowed to play for Tonga in the World Cup. That is good news for the likes of Jarryd Hayne, Michael Jennings and Neville Costigan, who may be allowed to take part in Origin but still play for their second country of choice if they miss out on Australian selection.
There has, however, been no final ruling on these players with regard to this year's Pacific Cup.