Despite a series loss to the British & Irish Lions, Rugby Australia (RA) Chief Executive Phil Waugh insisted on August 4 that talk of the Lions skipping Australia in future was unfounded. Contrary to speculation that Australia’s rugby standard was no longer worthy of inclusion in the Lions’ 12‑year cycle, Waugh credited the Wallabies’ competitiveness—particularly in a dramatic second Test in Melbourne and a 22–12 victory in Sydney—as proof that Australia remains a vital Lions destination
Waugh pointed to the narrow margins in the series—“the cumulative points, they got one point better than us and one try better than us”—as evidence of a “fierce test battle,” shutting down doubters. He also highlighted the post-match commitment by the Lions’ own CEO to return in 2037, reinforcing Australia’s place in the future tour rotation
He further praised Melbourne’s record crowd of 90,307 at the MCG for the second Test as among the most exciting Wallabies fixtures he’d witnessed. The full nine-match tour drew approximately 450,000 fans, generating revenues that exceeded expectations—much needed given RA’s current financial restructure
Turning the Financial Tide: Debt Reduction and Stability
Facing an A$80 million debt facility last year, RA had been under intense pressure financially. Waugh confirmed that the tour’s strong returns were now being channeled into repaying this obligation, part of a broader effort to get the union back to financial sustainability in time for the next broadcasting cycle starting in 2026
Giteau Law Scrapped: A New Era for Selection Policy
The trip also marked a watershed moment for eligibility rules. RA Director of High Performance Peter Horne confirmed that the Giteau Law—which had restricted Wallabies selection based on overseas-based status and capped selection quotas—was now completely redundant
Introduced in 2015 to allow star overseas Australians (like Matt Giteau) into the squad under specific criteria, the law permitted selection of up to three such players if they had 30 test caps or five years in Super Rugby. That policy has now been entirely dumped, with coach Joe Schmidt granted unrestricted access to all eligible Australians, regardless of where they play
Waugh emphasized that despite this new flexibility, RA still intends to prioritise domestic-based players when quality is comparable—reflecting a still-strong investment in Super Rugby and a desire to maintain pathways through Australia’s premier competition
Why This Matters: sport, finance, and strategy
Maintaining Lions stock
Australia’s standing in the Lions cycle had been under scrutiny following early defeats and questions about the Test ecosystem. By emphasizing player performance, attendance, and fan engagement, Waugh reaffirmed Australia’s essential place as a top-tier host nation—even as others, particularly New Zealand and South Africa, continue vying for dominance in global rugby.
Selection overhaul fosters squad depth
Eliminating the Giteau Law drastically widens the selection pool. High-profile players who migrated to Europe or Japan—such as Kurtley Beale, Will Skelton, or Samu Kerevi—can now be chosen without restrictions, provided current standards match squad needs. This comes at a time when Australia seeks major attacking, forward, and experience upgrades for the upcoming Rugby World Cup in 2027, which they will co-host
Structural test and long-term vision
RA has been on an organisational reset since the 2025 Lions tour was confirmed. With key events like the 2029 Women’s World Cup and 2027 Rugby World Cup on the horizon, reshaping high-performance and financial foundations is critical. The scrapping of Giteau Law and the strong tour revenue mark progress in stabilising the national game and supporting grassroots through to elite levels.
Global implications for rugby policy
Australia’s policy reset aligns it more closely to South Africa’s Regulation 9 model, where any overseas-based player may be selected, and diverges significantly from New Zealand’s All Blacks, who only select home-based players. The shift is emblematic of a broader global trend: talent mobility, franchise professionalisation, and trans-national eligibility alignment are reshaping rugby policy across all unions.
Challenges ahead
While the rule change is bold, RA faces critical implementation hurdles. Over-reliance on overseas-based talent could weaken domestic competitions, damage fan engagement in Super Rugby, and disrupt pathways for locally based players. Waugh’s caveat about prioritising domestic if quality is matched will be controversial if top-tier overseas pros dominate squads to the detriment of locally nurtured talent.
Looking forward
Australia goes into 2027 with a new slate: unrestricted selection policy, a backing of financial stability from the Lions tour, and a renewed competitive spirit. With the Wallabies beaten only narrowly across parts of the 2025 Lions series, Waugh is anticipating a bounce-back as Schmidt leads an unfettered squad. Australia’s destiny in the global rugby cycle looks reset—and if all unfolds as he hopes, returning as host in 2037 will be both planned and inevitable.
