Daniel Herbert, the chairman of Rugby Australia, has once again brought up the possibility of scheduling a Bledisloe Cup encounter between the Wallabies and All Blacks on Anzac Day. The notion of a Bledisloe Cup match on Anzac Day was initially suggested by Rugby Australia ten years ago, but New Zealand dismissed it as being too challenging. Herbert believes that rugby needs to adopt bold ideas that emphasize commerciality and entertainment, and he used State of Origin as an example of how a “flagship event” may be incorporated into the Super Rugby calendar. Rugby, according to Herbert, needs to shed its “amateur baggage” and start considering how to maximize commercial and entertaining value in order to reach the widest possible audience. After an extension of two months, the administrator’s report on the Melbourne Rebels is expected to be released on Friday. The report will include a recommendation on whether the Rebels should be liquidated, or whether there is a possibility for the club to continue operating with the support of a new consortium that is reportedly forming together by the former directors. Herbert said that RA had “very little communication” with the former directors and very few specifics regarding the new consortium’s plan. While Rugby Australia holds the Rebels’ license, Hebert declined to speculate on the franchise’s future beyond saying that there had been “scenario testing.” On the other hand, he strongly suggested that the team will not be able to continue functioning. When questioned about reports that the Jaguares had been asked to rejoin Super Rugby for the 2026 season, Herbert downplayed the speculation, saying that it was premature. Herbert discussed Rugby Australia’s concerns regarding New Zealand and South Africa’s proposal for traditional tours in 2026 and 2031, which would include an eight- or nine-game stretch of matches being played during the Rugby Championship window. This would result in a shortened Rugby Championship for the Wallabies and Argentina, which would in turn reduce the much-needed revenue generated by Test matches. Herbert stated that if Australia is to give its approval, it will seek compensation.
Anzac Day Bledisloe Cup Would Be ‘No-Brainer’, Says Rugby Australia Chairman
