The next television deal will be negotiated from 2021 onwards and McKellar said it was paramount to get games on a free-to-air network. Loading "Get it on free-to-air, definitely get it on free-to-air. Whoever is doing the next television deal, make sure that happens so that all the kids have access to see the best players running around," McKellar said. "Your (David) Pocock's, your (Christian) Lealiifano's, your (Scott) Sio's, Quade Cooper, Henry Speight ... all these sorts of players, we've got to make sure every little boy and girl in the country has access to them and aspires to play rugby union. "At the moment we're sort of hidden away. Fox are tremendous in their support of the game but I think free-to-air would certainly be a real positive change."

The Brumbies came under criticism for their game style by former player Justin Harrison earlier this month and McKellar said it was time the rugby community banded together. "Just talk positively about the game. We've got rugby union people that are bashing rugby union, like why are we doing that?" McKellar said. "We're starting to see the benefits of four teams and two Australian sides might sneak into the finals. We've got a World Cup this year ... let's start talking about the good things and the footy instead of worrying about beating ourselves up all the time. "All we can do is perform well on weekends and put on a good product for our fans ... then hopefully they'll come back and drag a few more people along.

"People love the game, it's the people that are sort of 50-50 that sit on the fence. At the moment they're on the other side of the fence and we have to bring them back." Meanwhile, former Brumbies coach David Nucifora's outstanding body of work as performance director of the Irish Rugby Football Union has been rewarded with a three-year contract extension. The new deal for the two-times capped Wallaby takes him through until the end of the 2021-22 season. Ireland's high performance teams have experienced a period of unparalleled success since Nucifora was initially appointed in 2014. At senior level Ireland won Six Nations titles in 2015 and 2018 and have beaten all three leading southern hemisphere countries New Zealand, Australia and South Africa

Ireland's under-20s achieved a Six Nations Grand Slam this year and the country finished second at the 2016 junior world championships, Their women won a Six Nations title in 2015, qualification was achieved for both the women and men onto the Sevens World Series, Leinster won Champions Cup and PRO titles in 2018 and Connacht captured the PRO trophy in 2016. Nucifora was charged with developing and advancing all aspects of the professional game in Ireland. Former Brumbies coach David Nucifora is enjoying great success in Ireland. Credit:Jodie Richter That included the elite player development pathway, succession planning, professional coach development and overseeing all representative team performance from the provinces through to underage sides and the Ireland national teams

"David has delivered across a huge number of areas," IRFU chief executive Philip Browne said. "Irish Rugby is in a better place for the experience, leadership and passion he has brought to the role. "We are delighted that he has agreed to continue this important work over the coming years." Prior to moving to Ireland, Nucifora was the general manger of the Australian Rugby Union's high performance unit from mid-2008 until he resigned in December 2012, and also coached the national under-20 team "I am delighted to sign up for another three years, myself and my family have really enjoyed our time in Ireland to date," Nucifora said. "I am excited about the prospect of driving further advancements in Irish Rugby's performance pathway."

AAP