Super Rugby is heavily propped up by the New Zealand teams. NZ Rugby give Rugby Australia $7 million in payments to stay afloat.Super rugby teams, from what I can establish, have a salary cap of $5.5 million. That seems extraordinary given it would have a peppercorn media deal and they play just the 7 home games a season. Not exactly a cheap comp to run either given the travel.
How could you not lose millions a year?
Worth noting RA is in $80 million in debt and is only hanging on with decent loan rates due to us hosting a British and Irish Lions tour in 2025 and the Rugby WC in 2027 which will bring in huge money. RA made $130 million on the 2003 WC for example. How they squandered all that money is ridiculous