£168m rugby TV pay-day

The South African, Australia and New Zealand rugby unions have agreed a £168million five-year broadcast rights package with News Limited and South Africa's Supersport.

The new deal will begin in 2006 and means the planned expansion of the Tri-Nations series, the new Super 14 competition, plus the new-look National Provincial Championship competition will go ahead when the current 10-year deal expires at the end of 2005.