Sanzar rights deal set to be announced

Sanzar, which operates the Super Rugby franchise-based rugby union competition in South Africa, New Zealand and Australia, has finalised a new rights deal, according to the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper.

The report said that the agreement will be announced in the coming weeks and will include free-to-air coverage.

The deal will double the Australian Rugby Union’s annual income from the rights from A$20m (€12.6m/$14.3m) to A$40m, the newspaper added.

Previous reports have suggested the next cycle of rights could run for five years, from 2016 to 2020.