This Month
BRC Capital faces crunch as investments including Hiro Brands fail
The company is a major sponsor of the Melbourne Rebels, with some directors in the portfolio receiving tax office notices over late payments.
- Zoe Samios and Jessica Sier
- Exclusive
- Australian rugby
Super Rugby’s Melbourne Rebels falls behind on tax bill, stadium fees
While the ATO is demanding its directors pay up, the club’s chairman, Paul Docherty, insists the team is financially viable.
- Zoe Samios
Barry O’Farrell named interim Wests Tigers chair as board dismissed
The entire board of struggling NRL club the Wests Tigers has been dismissed and the CEO has resigned following an extensive review into its governance.
- Zoe Samios
The NRL takes its biggest gamble yet
Documents obtained by AFR Weekend provide the clearest insight yet about what exactly the league is planning in its big push into the lucrative US market.
- Zoe Samios
Amazon snaps up rights to cricket World Cups until 2027
The deal means major tournaments including the T20 World Cups – previously aired by Foxtel, Nine and Seven West – will instead be consolidated at Prime Video.
- Zoe Samios
‘The more fun, the better he plays’: Golf’s rising star Min Woo Lee
The golf industry has tried for decades to attract more young people to play. A West Australian-born golfer is helping to move the dial.
- Zoe Samios
November
Former Wallaby Drew Mitchell takes Stan Sport to court
The former Wallaby will not appear in the broadcasters’ rugby commentary line-up from next year, and is taking the streaming service to the Fair Work Commission.
- Zoe Samios
Free-to-air TV wins two battles against streaming giants
The Albanese government will legislate prominent placement for local network apps on new TVs, and give free-to-air networks the first go at more sports rights.
- Zoe Samios and Sam Buckingham-Jones
Inside the Zoom board meetings which flipped rugby on its back
Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan is gone, and he’s made sure everyone knows it. But where to from here?
- Zoe Samios and Mark Di Stefano
Harvey Norman terminates rugby sponsorship deal
Chief executive Katie Page says the decision to end a three-year partnership with Rugby Australia was simply a case of “bad timing”.
- Zoe Samios
Socceroos, Matildas success boosts cash for Football Australia
Almost $20 million in prizemoney from the Socceroos, a boost in sponsorship and an uptick in merchandise sales nearly doubled Football Australia’s revenue.
- Zoe Samios
- Updated
- Hamish McLennan
Hamish McLennan out of Rugby Australia after late night board meeting
Rugby executives from several states including Queensland had demanded his resignation and were preparing to call an extraordinary general meeting.
- Updated
- Zoe Samios
- Updated
- Board shake-up
Future of Rugby chair in balance after emergency board meeting
But Hamish McLennan says the state unions that want him out are self-interested and waging a “grubby” smear campaign.
- Updated
- Zoe Samios
- Exclusive
- Board shake-up
NRL clubs shut down attempts to introduce female, diversity quotas
The Australian Rugby League Commission proposed mandating that one-third of directors and 25 per cent of executives be women, sources say.
- Zoe Samios
- Exclusive
- eSports
Melbourne football club probed over deal with crypto casino mogul
Melbourne Victory has been accused of backtracking on a commitment not to accept gambling sponsorship after signing up Ed Craven’s live-streaming site, Kick.
- Primrose Riordan and Zoe Samios
October
Rugby review to include whether too much was spent on rotten World Cup
Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh said there was “no hiding” from the board’s responsibility for the state of the game.
- Zoe Samios
SBS scores rights to next men’s soccer World Cup
The broadcaster will keep its 40-year relationship with soccer’s international body intact, after outbidding other networks and streamers.
- Sam Buckingham-Jones and Zoe Samios
Welcome to rugby union’s burning platform
Australia just had its worst World Cup campaign in history. Everyone knows what the sport needs to do but making those changes is another matter entirely.
- Zoe Samios
A-League club Newcastle Jets could have new owners by Christmas
A consortium made up of several A-Leagues clubs has controlled the Jets since 2021, after the previous owner failed to invest in the club or pay off debts.
- Zoe Samios
- Exclusive
- Broadcast rights
England wants $50m for next two Ashes series
Seven may be out of the race to secure the rights to the English Ashes series, informing top executives it could not meet its financial expectations.
- Zoe Samios
