Latest news with #GiteauLaw
Sydney Morning Herald
a day ago
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Storm star Papenhuyzen meets with Rugby360 bosses in Melbourne
The 32-year-old, who is on around $550,000 at the Warriors next year, still has one more year to run on his current deal but is poised to double his salary in the twilight of his career if the new competition gets off the ground. 'Roger comes off his current NRL contract in 2026, and as part of that planning, I threw this in front of him and asked if he had any interest in this option,' Tuivasa-Sheck's agent Bruce Sharrock said of the R360 offer. 'He said, 'Why wouldn't I?' I've always encouraged all my players to look at all options, and that's where we are at right now.' The competition needs to hit three major triggers to secure private equity funding before it can become a reality. The first is to have the franchises purchased and legally drafted. The second requires the confirmation of a broadcast partner, while the third element of the deal requires organisers to secure 200 players. All three targets must be reached by the end of September. Danny Townsend – the CEO of SURJ Sports Investment, the sports arm of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, – says the concept isn't being backed by them despite reports suggesting they were looking to join forces with competition organisers. 'We've not had any conversations with R360 and at this stage are not looking at any rugby investment,' he said. ARL Commission chairman Peter V'landys recently warned players of the risk of signing with R360. 'Whoever goes with them, if they are going to go with them, they are taking an almighty risk because no-one has seen a business model, no-one has seen how they are going to generate revenue,' V'landys recently told News Corp. 'It's like anything – if it seems to be too good to be true, it just might be. It's like when you make an investment. You might get a greater return, but you're also taking a bigger risk. The first thing I would ask myself is how are they going to pay for this. I would want to understand how they are going to fund it,' he said. 'I would caution players to do a risk analysis. We're keeping an eye on it but everything so far, you can't substantiate how it will happen.' In Sydney for an announcement for 2027 Rugby World Cup tickets, World Rugby boss Alan Gilpin addressed the R360 concept, which would require WR sign off to get up and running. Gilpin said the competition would need to observe the existing 'Regulation 9' release windows for players to be able to play Test rugby for their countries through the year. Loading Theoretically, it could open the door for Papenhuyzen, and other NRL recruits, to be called up by the Wallabies. Rugby Australia's current policy is that players must compete in Super Rugby to be eligible for Test selection, but the Wallabies coach can pick three offshore based players per series under the 'Giteau Law'. 'We need to have a dialogue with those guys when they are ready to do that. Rugby needs investment. Rugby is, and Australia is, a great example, in a really competitive environment,' Gilpin said of R360. 'Around the world, every sport and beyond sport is competing in an ever more difficult attention economy. Investment into the game is great. As long as that investment is driving into the right areas and creating a more financially sustainable game for players, for the wider ecosystem, then we encourage it. We've got to understand what that means in the R360 case. 'The position is that whatever competitions arise, we know players want to play international rugby. In our sport, the international game is the pinnacle of the game. Players want to play in World Cups, they want to play in the Olympic Games ... Whatever new concepts, whether it is R360 or otherwise, which are being discussed with players, Regulation 9 and that whole concept of player release for defined international windows is key.'
The Age
a day ago
- Business
- The Age
Storm star Papenhuyzen meets with Rugby360 bosses in Melbourne
The 32-year-old, who is on around $550,000 at the Warriors next year, still has one more year to run on his current deal but is poised to double his salary in the twilight of his career if the new competition gets off the ground. 'Roger comes off his current NRL contract in 2026, and as part of that planning, I threw this in front of him and asked if he had any interest in this option,' Tuivasa-Sheck's agent Bruce Sharrock said of the R360 offer. 'He said, 'Why wouldn't I?' I've always encouraged all my players to look at all options, and that's where we are at right now.' The competition needs to hit three major triggers to secure private equity funding before it can become a reality. The first is to have the franchises purchased and legally drafted. The second requires the confirmation of a broadcast partner, while the third element of the deal requires organisers to secure 200 players. All three targets must be reached by the end of September. Danny Townsend – the CEO of SURJ Sports Investment, the sports arm of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, – says the concept isn't being backed by them despite reports suggesting they were looking to join forces with competition organisers. 'We've not had any conversations with R360 and at this stage are not looking at any rugby investment,' he said. ARL Commission chairman Peter V'landys recently warned players of the risk of signing with R360. 'Whoever goes with them, if they are going to go with them, they are taking an almighty risk because no-one has seen a business model, no-one has seen how they are going to generate revenue,' V'landys recently told News Corp. 'It's like anything – if it seems to be too good to be true, it just might be. It's like when you make an investment. You might get a greater return, but you're also taking a bigger risk. The first thing I would ask myself is how are they going to pay for this. I would want to understand how they are going to fund it,' he said. 'I would caution players to do a risk analysis. We're keeping an eye on it but everything so far, you can't substantiate how it will happen.' In Sydney for an announcement for 2027 Rugby World Cup tickets, World Rugby boss Alan Gilpin addressed the R360 concept, which would require WR sign off to get up and running. Gilpin said the competition would need to observe the existing 'Regulation 9' release windows for players to be able to play Test rugby for their countries through the year. Loading Theoretically, it could open the door for Papenhuyzen, and other NRL recruits, to be called up by the Wallabies. Rugby Australia's current policy is that players must compete in Super Rugby to be eligible for Test selection, but the Wallabies coach can pick three offshore based players per series under the 'Giteau Law'. 'We need to have a dialogue with those guys when they are ready to do that. Rugby needs investment. Rugby is, and Australia is, a great example, in a really competitive environment,' Gilpin said of R360. 'Around the world, every sport and beyond sport is competing in an ever more difficult attention economy. Investment into the game is great. As long as that investment is driving into the right areas and creating a more financially sustainable game for players, for the wider ecosystem, then we encourage it. We've got to understand what that means in the R360 case. 'The position is that whatever competitions arise, we know players want to play international rugby. In our sport, the international game is the pinnacle of the game. Players want to play in World Cups, they want to play in the Olympic Games ... Whatever new concepts, whether it is R360 or otherwise, which are being discussed with players, Regulation 9 and that whole concept of player release for defined international windows is key.'
Perth Now
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Lolesio's substitute can shine: Wallabies great Giteau
Test centurion Matt Giteau believes Ben Donaldson should wear the Wallabies No.10 jersey against the British and Irish Lions, but says it's "silly" not to include a veteran playmaker in the squad. With first-choice flyhalf Noah Lolesio ruled out of the series after neck surgery, Donaldson and Tom Lynagh are the front-runners for the role for the opening Test in Brisbane on July 19. Giteau, who played at both 10 and 12 for Australia during his 103 Tests, told AAP that Donaldson showed enough in the Wallabies' last-ditch win over Fiji to be given first start. The Western Force star replaced Lolesio, who suffered a whiplash injury in a tackle, and Giteau was impressed by his composure as well as his skill during his 19 minutes on the field. "With Noah unavailable, Ben Donaldson looks like first-choice 10 to me," said Giteau, who is an ambassador for Lions Tour official sleep partner Resmed. "His obvious ability to carry, he keeps the defence guessing, and he's got a really good kicking game. "When he came on for that limited time against Fiji, the Wallabies were up against the flow of the game, heavily, and he was able to get them back on track. "His penalty kick to the sideline with three minutes to go showed a lot of courage, you know. He went for it and it was a beautiful kick. "Got us down their end, and then off the back of that we were able to get a maul penalty ... and then able to get over the line and get the win. "So I just think his composure in the first Test of the season, especially in an important time in the game, he showed a lot there, so I think Joe (Schmidt) will get a lot of confidence out of his performance." Back in 2015 then Test coach Michael Cheika recalled 92-capped Giteau from France to bolster his squad leading into the World Cup, with the relaxation in overseas selection dubbed the Giteau Law. The former Brumbies and Force player was instrumental in helping Australia make the final in England, with Cheika lauding his big-match experience. Giteau said underdogs Australia would benefit from coach Schmidt including a veteran such as James O'Connor, Kurtley Beale or Bernard Foley when the squad for the Lions is named on Friday. He likened it to the Lions flying in Owen Farrell, who is the only player in their squad to have gone on four Lions tours, winning in 2013 against the Wallabies. "They've seen so many different defence pictures in their time that they can help these young 10s if they are faced with a certain situation in those games, they can prepare them," said 42-year-old Giteau, who only retired last year. "You look at Owen Farrell's inclusion, what he's bringing is leadership and experience - he's the only one in that group that's won a Lions series. "James (O'Connor) and Kurtley (Beale) were part of the previous tour 12 years ago, and Bernard has got big-game experience as well, so these guys have been there and done that. "To not include any of them this second time around, I think would be silly when they've got so much that they can add and help, not only young 10s, but just the whole squad in general." Exiled by then Wallabies coach Robbie Deans before the 2011 World Cup, Giteau's shift to France meant he didn't face the Lions in 2013. He was only a teenager making his Super debut during the previous series in 2001. Giteau said it was only now that he realised the magnitude of missing out on ever playing the Lions, despite a 20-plus year career. "In 2013 when they came I was in France ... and 2001 I just finished school, so I wasn't really reading papers or going to games, so I didn't really understand how massive this opportunity is,'' he said. "But then to sit back and reflect and know that I played over 20 years professionally, but never got the opportunity to play in a Lions series, it is special, and I think the players know that."
The Advertiser
01-07-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
'How good was that?': Morahan on that try, 12 years on
Luke Morahan doesn't get sick of talking about that try. It's just that, 12 years on from his Suncorp Stadium stunner against the British & Irish Lions, it's not what resonates with the former Queensland Reds winger. "You get tagged in stuff on social media, so you see it and you get nostalgic emotions," Morahan told AAP ahead of the Lions' return to Brisbane on Wednesday against the Reds. "But I look back and start to see the players I ended up playing next to for six or seven years that I didn't know at the time. "It doesn't feel that long ago, but you realise your career lasted a bit longer than you anticipated." Sick in the lead-up, Morahan said he was just relieved to make it onto the park before producing an effort still regarded as one of rugby's great solo tries. On a long, weaving run, Morahan beat four defenders, regathered his own chip kick and finally dragged the fullback over the line to score. It was one of two Reds' five-pointers on a wet night and, while the Lions only managed one try, they had the boot of Owen Farrell to thank for a 22-12 win. "I remember the occasion more than the actual try itself," Morahan said. "The lead-up to the game that week, it has a real strange feeling ... a mix between a Test and a Barbarians game where you want to throw everything at it and have a good time, but it's a huge occasion. "We started really well, took it to them and it could have gone either way." Monahan had already made his Test debut a year earlier but, after those few seconds of magic, was thrust back into the squad during the Lions series. He was pulled away before the series ended though, to play for Australia at the Rugby Sevens World Cup in Russia. A shift to the Western Force followed and he added two more Tests, Monahan's last at fullback in a win against France in Paris in 2016. Morahan then moved to England with Bristol, a five-year stint that yielded 47 tries in 107 games before a pre-retirement cameo with Top 14 outfit Bayonne. He played his last professional game in 2023 and is now back on the Gold Coast working in mergers and acquisitions with no regrets. "You can always look back and wish things would be different, or you can look back and say, 'How good was that?'," Morahan, who also won Commonwealth Games silver in India, said. "I got to play a Test, for the Barbarians, got to play a sevens World Cup. "I played in England, in France. That's rare; not many can say they've done that." The prospect of playing more Tests for the Wallabies went off the table with his European move. The 'Giteau Law', as Australia's overseas-based selection policy is commonly referred to, has since loosened in a move Morahan thinks is long overdue. "I had extremely talented guys in front of me like Digby Ioane, Drew Mitchell, Wallabies greats," he said. "So I look back and think fondly that I even got to play one Test. "But they need to open up the Giteau Law more. "I became a far better player by going over to experience different ways of playing the game. "Everyone's scared of the floodgates opening and leaving (Super Rugby) if they open it up, but there's not enough foreign spots in teams around the world. "Players go, they want to come back. It's starting to happen more now, with guys on sabbatical and Rugby Australia should be strategic and send guys over to become better players." Morahan will join old teammates at a Reds reunion lunch on Wednesday and will be in the crowd when the Lions return for the first Test on July 19. Luke Morahan doesn't get sick of talking about that try. It's just that, 12 years on from his Suncorp Stadium stunner against the British & Irish Lions, it's not what resonates with the former Queensland Reds winger. "You get tagged in stuff on social media, so you see it and you get nostalgic emotions," Morahan told AAP ahead of the Lions' return to Brisbane on Wednesday against the Reds. "But I look back and start to see the players I ended up playing next to for six or seven years that I didn't know at the time. "It doesn't feel that long ago, but you realise your career lasted a bit longer than you anticipated." Sick in the lead-up, Morahan said he was just relieved to make it onto the park before producing an effort still regarded as one of rugby's great solo tries. On a long, weaving run, Morahan beat four defenders, regathered his own chip kick and finally dragged the fullback over the line to score. It was one of two Reds' five-pointers on a wet night and, while the Lions only managed one try, they had the boot of Owen Farrell to thank for a 22-12 win. "I remember the occasion more than the actual try itself," Morahan said. "The lead-up to the game that week, it has a real strange feeling ... a mix between a Test and a Barbarians game where you want to throw everything at it and have a good time, but it's a huge occasion. "We started really well, took it to them and it could have gone either way." Monahan had already made his Test debut a year earlier but, after those few seconds of magic, was thrust back into the squad during the Lions series. He was pulled away before the series ended though, to play for Australia at the Rugby Sevens World Cup in Russia. A shift to the Western Force followed and he added two more Tests, Monahan's last at fullback in a win against France in Paris in 2016. Morahan then moved to England with Bristol, a five-year stint that yielded 47 tries in 107 games before a pre-retirement cameo with Top 14 outfit Bayonne. He played his last professional game in 2023 and is now back on the Gold Coast working in mergers and acquisitions with no regrets. "You can always look back and wish things would be different, or you can look back and say, 'How good was that?'," Morahan, who also won Commonwealth Games silver in India, said. "I got to play a Test, for the Barbarians, got to play a sevens World Cup. "I played in England, in France. That's rare; not many can say they've done that." The prospect of playing more Tests for the Wallabies went off the table with his European move. The 'Giteau Law', as Australia's overseas-based selection policy is commonly referred to, has since loosened in a move Morahan thinks is long overdue. "I had extremely talented guys in front of me like Digby Ioane, Drew Mitchell, Wallabies greats," he said. "So I look back and think fondly that I even got to play one Test. "But they need to open up the Giteau Law more. "I became a far better player by going over to experience different ways of playing the game. "Everyone's scared of the floodgates opening and leaving (Super Rugby) if they open it up, but there's not enough foreign spots in teams around the world. "Players go, they want to come back. It's starting to happen more now, with guys on sabbatical and Rugby Australia should be strategic and send guys over to become better players." Morahan will join old teammates at a Reds reunion lunch on Wednesday and will be in the crowd when the Lions return for the first Test on July 19. Luke Morahan doesn't get sick of talking about that try. It's just that, 12 years on from his Suncorp Stadium stunner against the British & Irish Lions, it's not what resonates with the former Queensland Reds winger. "You get tagged in stuff on social media, so you see it and you get nostalgic emotions," Morahan told AAP ahead of the Lions' return to Brisbane on Wednesday against the Reds. "But I look back and start to see the players I ended up playing next to for six or seven years that I didn't know at the time. "It doesn't feel that long ago, but you realise your career lasted a bit longer than you anticipated." Sick in the lead-up, Morahan said he was just relieved to make it onto the park before producing an effort still regarded as one of rugby's great solo tries. On a long, weaving run, Morahan beat four defenders, regathered his own chip kick and finally dragged the fullback over the line to score. It was one of two Reds' five-pointers on a wet night and, while the Lions only managed one try, they had the boot of Owen Farrell to thank for a 22-12 win. "I remember the occasion more than the actual try itself," Morahan said. "The lead-up to the game that week, it has a real strange feeling ... a mix between a Test and a Barbarians game where you want to throw everything at it and have a good time, but it's a huge occasion. "We started really well, took it to them and it could have gone either way." Monahan had already made his Test debut a year earlier but, after those few seconds of magic, was thrust back into the squad during the Lions series. He was pulled away before the series ended though, to play for Australia at the Rugby Sevens World Cup in Russia. A shift to the Western Force followed and he added two more Tests, Monahan's last at fullback in a win against France in Paris in 2016. Morahan then moved to England with Bristol, a five-year stint that yielded 47 tries in 107 games before a pre-retirement cameo with Top 14 outfit Bayonne. He played his last professional game in 2023 and is now back on the Gold Coast working in mergers and acquisitions with no regrets. "You can always look back and wish things would be different, or you can look back and say, 'How good was that?'," Morahan, who also won Commonwealth Games silver in India, said. "I got to play a Test, for the Barbarians, got to play a sevens World Cup. "I played in England, in France. That's rare; not many can say they've done that." The prospect of playing more Tests for the Wallabies went off the table with his European move. The 'Giteau Law', as Australia's overseas-based selection policy is commonly referred to, has since loosened in a move Morahan thinks is long overdue. "I had extremely talented guys in front of me like Digby Ioane, Drew Mitchell, Wallabies greats," he said. "So I look back and think fondly that I even got to play one Test. "But they need to open up the Giteau Law more. "I became a far better player by going over to experience different ways of playing the game. "Everyone's scared of the floodgates opening and leaving (Super Rugby) if they open it up, but there's not enough foreign spots in teams around the world. "Players go, they want to come back. It's starting to happen more now, with guys on sabbatical and Rugby Australia should be strategic and send guys over to become better players." Morahan will join old teammates at a Reds reunion lunch on Wednesday and will be in the crowd when the Lions return for the first Test on July 19.
Perth Now
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
'How good was that?': Morahan on that try, 12 years on
Luke Morahan doesn't get sick of talking about that try. It's just that, 12 years on from his Suncorp Stadium stunner against the British & Irish Lions, it's not what resonates with the former Queensland Reds winger. "You get tagged in stuff on social media, so you see it and you get nostalgic emotions," Morahan told AAP ahead of the Lions' return to Brisbane on Wednesday against the Reds. "But I look back and start to see the players I ended up playing next to for six or seven years that I didn't know at the time. "It doesn't feel that long ago, but you realise your career lasted a bit longer than you anticipated." Sick in the lead-up, Morahan said he was just relieved to make it onto the park before producing an effort still regarded as one of rugby's great solo tries. On a long, weaving run, Morahan beat four defenders, regathered his own chip kick and finally dragged the fullback over the line to score. It was one of two Reds' five-pointers on a wet night and, while the Lions only managed one try, they had the boot of Owen Farrell to thank for a 22-12 win. "I remember the occasion more than the actual try itself," Morahan said. "The lead-up to the game that week, it has a real strange feeling ... a mix between a Test and a Barbarians game where you want to throw everything at it and have a good time, but it's a huge occasion. "We started really well, took it to them and it could have gone either way." Monahan had already made his Test debut a year earlier but, after those few seconds of magic, was thrust back into the squad during the Lions series. He was pulled away before the series ended though, to play for Australia at the Rugby Sevens World Cup in Russia. A shift to the Western Force followed and he added two more Tests, Monahan's last at fullback in a win against France in Paris in 2016. Morahan then moved to England with Bristol, a five-year stint that yielded 47 tries in 107 games before a pre-retirement cameo with Top 14 outfit Bayonne. He played his last professional game in 2023 and is now back on the Gold Coast working in mergers and acquisitions with no regrets. "You can always look back and wish things would be different, or you can look back and say, 'How good was that?'," Morahan, who also won Commonwealth Games silver in India, said. "I got to play a Test, for the Barbarians, got to play a sevens World Cup. "I played in England, in France. That's rare; not many can say they've done that." The prospect of playing more Tests for the Wallabies went off the table with his European move. The 'Giteau Law', as Australia's overseas-based selection policy is commonly referred to, has since loosened in a move Morahan thinks is long overdue. "I had extremely talented guys in front of me like Digby Ioane, Drew Mitchell, Wallabies greats," he said. "So I look back and think fondly that I even got to play one Test. "But they need to open up the Giteau Law more. "I became a far better player by going over to experience different ways of playing the game. "Everyone's scared of the floodgates opening and leaving (Super Rugby) if they open it up, but there's not enough foreign spots in teams around the world. "Players go, they want to come back. It's starting to happen more now, with guys on sabbatical and Rugby Australia should be strategic and send guys over to become better players." Morahan will join old teammates at a Reds reunion lunch on Wednesday and will be in the crowd when the Lions return for the first Test on July 19.
