'Exceeds expectations': B&I Lions bolster Australia
SPOTLIGHT: With the coffers bolstered by a larger-than-expected Lions windfall, Rugby Australia feels in good shape on and off the field heading into a home World Cup in 2027.
Winning the third Test in a rousing performance in Sydney, the Wallabies ended the series as 1-2 losers for the second successive tour, but RA boss Phil Waugh says the close contest across the series secured its future.
There was talk pre-tour that an uncompetitive Wallabies outfit could lead to Australia losing the 12-yearly series, with France touted as an alternative Lions destination.
The story continues below…
“We saw on the field, they got one point better than us and one try better than us and it was a really fierce Test battle,” Waugh said.
“Any of that speculation was shut down by a number of people, including their CEO, who spoke at various events, committing to returning to Australia.
“It would have been nice to win the series, but if you look at the nine games across the country, the record [MCG] crowd, sold-out stadiums, both in Rugby Australia but more broadly into the economy, it’s been very successful off the field.
“And then we’ve seen the progress of the Wallabies group.
“It’s been an overwhelmingly successful tour – it would have been nice to obviously win the trophy, but that wasn’t to happen.”
The story continues below…
RA was predicted to pocket more than AUS$100 million from the tour, which will help clear the AUS$60 million they’ve already spent from an AUS$80 million loan taken out to safeguard the code.
Waugh said while the figures were still being finalised, they had “exceeded expectations”.
“We’re working through how the funds are flowing through on the back of the tour now, but it’s certainly exceeded expectations,” the former Test flank said.
“It’s been a good opportunity for us to reset the balance sheet and being quite overt and transparent around the fact that we’ve got the debt facility and ideally we pay that down as quickly as possible given the cost to carry it.
“We’re still planning to reset the balance sheet, clear the debt position and then lean into the next broadcast cycle to get to a financially sustainable model.”
Under coach Joe Schmidt the Wallabies have climbed back up the rankings to world No.6 following the all-time low of the 2023 Rugby World Cup pool exit.
While Les Kiss has already been named as his successor, Schmidt will stay on until midway through next year, after initially only signing on until the end of the Lions campaign.
Waugh said the timeline still had the Wallabies on track for success at the next World Cup tournament in Australia despite Kiss only having a year in the hot seat.
“We’ve been really considered and disciplined around the process of planning through to ’27 and the transition plan we have for Joe and for Les,” Waugh said.
“Obviously, the history that Les has had with Joe allows for a really seamless transition through to August next year.
“The similarities between Joe and Les gives us great confidence that it’s the right plan and we’re on the right path.”
The Wallabies have the week off before they fly out for two Rugby Championship Tests against world champions South Africa, with the first in Johannesburg on August 16.
RA remain hopeful powerhouse lock Will Skelton, who plays club rugby in France, will be available, saying he will be part of the medical checks this week.
