'Rugby needs a cash injection': ACT Brumbies chief Phil Thomson open to explore private equity

Thomson is bound for Sydney this week with each Super Rugby AU club chair and chief executive to meet with Rugby Australia chair Hamish McLennan and chief Andy Marinos on Thursday and Friday.

High on the agenda will be a proposed sale of a 10 to 15 per cent share of rugby union's commercial rights to private equity which the code's bosses hope can strengthen the game's bottom line.

New Zealand Rugby can generate $387 million through a private equity deal with Silver Lake, with RA bosses and state counterparts to discuss the potential returns on a deal which could deliver a war chest for the game in Australia.

"We're all looking at ways of bringing alternate revenue into the sport, and private equity is one of those," Thomson said.

MORE RUGBY UNION

"All the rugby organisations need a cash injection, that's certainly one of the things we all need to explore. What it means, how it's done, and the flow-on effect from community rugby through to professional rugby is unknown at this stage.

"That's the way the world is moving in the sporting frame at the moment. South Africa is heading down that path with CVC, New Zealand have voted for it with Silver Lake. Teams over in the UK and France, a lot of them have got rich investors already.

"It's just the way of the world at the moment, when additional cash flow is required, private equity is a way to do that."

Thomson will then travel to Brisbane, where the Brumbies face the Queensland Reds in the Super Rugby AU final at Lang Park on Saturday night.

The Brumbies have locked in a charter flight for fans, with supporters able to secure flights, tickets and accommodation for a weekend at the decider.

Queensland officials are hoping for a packed house, with more than 30,000 tickets already snapped up with the Reds expecting a sea of maroon.

"It would be a great thing to look into the grandstand and see a core group of Brumbies supporters. We would certainly appreciate that," Brumbies coach Dan McKellar said.

"I know in semi-finals in the past, in 2014 against the Waratahs, there was 45,000 there at the SFS and one end was chock-full of Brumbies supporters.

"We understand people have used their hard-earned cash to come up and be a part of a special moment for us as a football team, so appreciation is probably an understatement."

SUPER RUGBY AU FINAL

Saturday: Queensland Reds v ACT Brumbies at Lang Park, 7.45pm. Broadcast: Live on Stan Sport and 9Gem. Tickets from Ticketek.

*The Brumbies are offering a package for fans including a charter flight to and from Brisbane, a ticket to the final, and one night's accommodation. Secure your seat here.

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