This was published 7 years ago
SBS swoops with late deal to broadcast Wallabies' France, England Tests on free-to-air TV
By Georgina Robinson
Wallabies fans will be able to watch the anticipated re-match between Australia and Eddie Jones' England on free-to-air television after SBS secured a late deal to broadcast two of the four remaining spring tour Test matches.
The network will show the Wallabies' upcoming Test against France on November 20 and the team's final Test against England on December 4.
Return: Will Genia will start for the Wallabies against Scotland this weekend.Credit: Getty Images
It will be the first time in five years that rugby will be shown on SBS and is an adequate result for the Australian Rugby Union, who do not control broadcast negotiations for the November internationals but nevertheless faced the embarrassing prospect of having no content on free-to-air television for the first time in seven years after the Ten Network passed on the option to buy the November Tests.
ARU chief executive Bill Pulver said it was disappointing the whole tour would not be broadcast on free-to-air, but said the France and England Tests would be impressive spectacles.
"Unfortunately when it comes to Wallabies matches on the Spring Tour, the ARU play no role in the broadcast negotiations as they are negotiated between the home union for each Test and Australian broadcasters," Pulver said.
"It is a disappointing outcome that not all of the Wallabies Spring Tour matches are available on free-to-air television but with all Tests being screened by beIN Sports and the addition of the England and France matches on SBS, there are options available for fans to watch each Test."
SBS Director of Sport Ken Shipp said SBS was pleased to be dipping its toes back into rugby after last broadcasting a Wallabies Test in 2011.
"SBS is pleased it can bring the very best of world rugby to Australians free-to-air," Shipp said. "Globally, sport is recognised as a way to bring people and communities together – not to mention it is also very much a part of Australia's DNA. These matches are a great addition to SBS's already strong summer sporting line up – which includes the Premier league, A-League, and the NBL"
Pay television network beIN Sports, formerly Al Jazeera Sports, announced last week it had bought the rights to all five of Australia's Tests abroad this month. SBS' late-breaking purchase could potentially give fans a free-to-air glimpse of Australia's audacious bid for the grand slam. Michael Cheika's Wallabies are attempting what no Australian Test team has pulled off since 1984, victory against all four home nations Wales, Scotland, Ireland and England.
In an auspicious precursor, SBS picked up the 2005 Ashes cricket series between England and Australia, where the home side took the urn for the first time in 19 years.
Australia face Scotland in Edinburgh this weekend after beating Wales 32-8.