NINE AND RUGBY AUSTRALIA EXPAND PARTNERSHIP TO BRING FANS MORE WORLD-CLASS RUGBY COVERAGE
April 9, 2025 - Nine and Rugby Australia have today confirmed the renewal of their landmark partnership, securing a new multi-year agreement that cements Nine as the home of rugby through to 2030. With the deal now to be ratified by SANZAAR, this extended collaboration ensures more rugby than ever before, giving fans unparalleled access to the game across Stan Sport, 9Network, 9Now and amplified by Nine’s unrivalled suite of assets across digital, publishing, and audio.
Stan Sport remains the place for fans to witness all the major moments of Rugby Union both here and around the world, including every Super Rugby Pacific round and the biggest international showdowns in a single destination. While all Australians can unite behind their Wallabies and Wallaroos with every home match and all of the Bledisloe Cup live and free on the 9Network and 9Now.
Click here for images, vision and quotes from today's announcement.
Set to make international rugby even more of a must-watch event, the deal will include the new Nations Cup, upon the final competition framework being confirmed. This biennial tournament will pit the SANZAAR Unions, Japan and Fiji against the might of the Six Nations Unions in a nail-biting new addition to the global rugby calendar.
Since the beginning of the partnership in 2021, Rugby Australia and Nine have worked together to elevate the profile of rugby across Australia, significantly growing audiences – up 11% on Stan and 17% on Nine year-on-year – and delivering unforgettable and entertaining moments at all levels of the game.
Nine CEO, Matt Stanton, said:
“Today’s announcement reinforces Nine’s position as the home of Australia’s biggest sporting moments – bringing unrivalled entertainment, access and reach to fans, and the strongest and most effective partnership for premier sporting bodies that delivers like no other Australian media organisation can. We know there is no better combination than the 9Network, 9Now and Stan Sport to grow a sport’s popularity and deepen its connection with its fan base."
"We are thrilled to extend our partnership with Rugby Australia at a time when live sport continues to demonstrate its ability to drive strong growth across streaming and free-to-air audiences. This agreement isn’t just about showing world-class rugby – it’s about delivering fans a world-class experience on their screens. Whether through live coverage, streaming, expert commentary or exclusive insights, we’re ensuring every moment of Rugby on Nine is an unmissable event.”
Rugby Australia CEO, Phil Waugh, said:
"The continuation of this partnership is a significant step forward for rugby in Australia. Working with Nine and Stan Sport, we have been able to deliver exceptional coverage to our fans while continuing to invest in the growth of the game. Rugby Australia is thrilled to extend this collaboration, and we look forward to the exciting opportunities ahead."
The partnership ensures coverage of the extensive domestic and international rugby calendar for the Wallabies, All Blacks, Springboks and Argentina, including The Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup, as well as the newly-announced SAAB tours showcasing the All Blacks and Springboks tours.
Supporting this high-quality schedule of international tier one rugby will be the Super Rugby Pacific, Super Rugby Women’s, and leading domestic Australian, New Zealand and South African competitions, all live and on-demand on Stan Sport.
As part of the renewed partnership, rugby fans can look forward to:
- Comprehensive coverage of Super Rugby Pacific, Super Rugby Women’s, and key Rugby Australia Test matches - including the Wallabies, Wallaroos, Bledisloe Cup, and The Rugby Championship fixtures - along with highlights, mini matches, and full match replays. All available live and on-demand on Stan Sport, with select matches in 4K Ultra HD.
- Exclusive behind-the-scenes content and innovations to bring fans closer to the game, including through Stan Sport’s exclusive bespoke rugby shows that bring the game to life seven days a week
This partnership reaffirms Nine and Stan’s commitment to serving as the ultimate destination for rugby in Australia, ensuring fans across the country can access the game’s biggest moments across multiple platforms.
For more information, please contact:
Stan
Hamish Birt, Senior PR Manager - Sport
hamish.birt@stan.com.au
Rugby Australia
Alex Brown, Director of Corporate Affairs - Rugby Australia
alex.brown@rugby.com.au
For all Stan Publicity assets, go to: www.stan.news
April 9, 2025