Overview

• Rugby Australia has officially scrapped the Giteau Law, granting Joe Schmidt unrestricted authority to select eligible overseas players.
• The union reaffirmed a preference for onshore talent of equal calibre and will activate World Rugby’s Regulation 9 to secure foreign-based stars when necessary.
• Projected Lions tour revenue exceeding $100 million will be used to repay an $80 million loan taken out to safeguard the code.
• RA defended its pre-series planning by pointing to a 50-man managed group and deep alignment with Super Rugby clubs despite criticism of having only one warm-up Test.
• The governing body is engaging with the nascent R360 league as it evaluates the competition’s implications for player welfare and Wallabies eligibility.