AS far as match-day innovations go, this would have to be one of the best we’ve seen.

A couch that slides along the sideline in synch with the on-field action will be unveiled by Samsung at this year’s Bledisloe Cup match in Sydney.

A world-first, the four-seater “Slideliner” will roll from tryline to tryline at ANZ Stadium at the comfortable speed of 20kmh.

Wallabies players recently shot a television commercial for the Slideliner and were highly impressed.

“It’s like Samsung Gold Class, like you’re at the cinemas but instead you’re watching a football game, it’s certainly the best seats in the house,” Adam Ashley-Cooper said.

“This has certainly never been done at any sporting venue across my travels. I have seen a spa, a jacuzzi on the side of a football field in Durban, but this is a drier, much nicer option.”

Halfback Nick Phipps added: “I liken it to the Olympic 100m sprint camera just sliding up and down the field, it’s one of those money-can’t-buy things, it will be good for the winner.

“It’s probably one of the best games in the world, the Bledisloe, and this is debuting there.”

One winner will choose three mates to join them on the Slideliner for Australia’s huge match against the All Blacks on August 16 in Homebush.

The Slideliner will also be in use for the Wallabies’ Test in Perth against South Africa on September 6, and the third Bledisloe in Brisbane on October 18.

To get on the Slideliner, you have to buy a Samsung Smart TV anytime between next Monday (July 14) and September 30 and enter online at samsungslideliner.com.au.

The Call of the Wallaby: Coming soon

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BRUMBIES and Eastwood flanker Locky McCaffrey will put his hand up to play Test rugby for England after signing with London Welsh in the UK premiership.

McCaffrey will join the newly promoted club in coming weeks after putting pen to paper with London Welsh at the recent Singapore Tens tournament. It was a fruitful tournament for Welsh, with another attendee, All Black halfback Piri Weepu, also signing for them on Thursday.

Courtesy of his English mum, McCaffrey is not classed as a foreign import and that means the ex-Force and Waratah loosie will also be eligible to play for England should Stuart Lancaster be looking for a skilful ball-playing forward for next year’s World Cup.

“Like every boy you want to grow up and play for the Wallabies but if that direction changes, you still want to play at the highest level possible,” McCaffrey told us.

media_camera Locky McCaffrey in action for Eastwood. File photo

“To play Test rugby is the highest honour and if I got the opportunity to do that playing for England, I’d be absolutely stoked. As a team they’re playing some really exciting rugby these days.”

McCaffrey made the decision to leave for Europe after his promising career inexplicably stalled at both the Force and the Brumbies. He played rarely in Perth, and has limited bench roles in the ACT.

“I’ve enjoyed it here at the Brumbies and I’m honestly now in the best shape of my life, but I didn’t want to waste the best years of my footy days playing club footy in Canberra, or 20 minutes here and there from the bench,” McCaffrey said.

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The NSW Country Eagles hosting the Greater Sydney Rams at Coogee Oval will be the opening National Rugby Championship fixture in Sydney next month.

It’s been glacial in the making but the NRC draw is almost complete, and is set to be released next week ahead of a kick-off date of August 21.

A draft fixture list spied by this column had some eyebrow raising elements, including a return of rugby to Adelaide, a Test curtain raiser and a big old sidestep of the AFL and NRL Grand Finals.

But the most curious was what appeared to be an opening round between August 21-23 without any games in Sydney.

Brisbane will host the Sydney Stars in the TV game on Thursday, August 21, followed the North Harbour Rays playing at AAMI Park in Melbourne on Friday night (August 22). Canberra play Perth at home and the NSW Country Eagles were down to play the Rams at a TBC regional venue.

Perhaps sensing no games in Australia’s biggest rugby market wasn’t wise, it’s understood the Randwick connection for the Eagles kicked in and the game has been moved to Coogee.

Other news? Perth will host the Rams at Hindmarsh Stadium in Adelaide on September 6, the Stars will play at Leichhardt Oval and the Rays at Brookvale Oval. The Rams are being linked to Parramatta Stadium again.

Queensland Country may host the Rays as a curtain raiser to the Wallabies-Argentina Test on the Gold Coast on September 13.

All games on the NRL’s Sunday Grand Final will be played on the Saturday, and all games will be on Sunday to also avoid a clash with the AFL’s GF.

Not all clubs will host TV games, either: only Brisbane, the Rams, the Rays, Melbourne and Qld Country in the first five rounds.

After that the TV games will be decided by Fox Sports and the NRC Commission.

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WAS that former Canterbury coach and defensive hardman Steve Folkes seen wandering through Waratahs headquarters the other day?

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THE ARU will be hoping while the sun is shining during the Super Rugby finals, the Waratahs and Brumbies and/or Force make some hay.

Negotiations are well underway on the new broadcast deal, and the potential for Aussie teams in the finals to post some big ratings numbers is well timed. A home final for the Waratahs would be manna from heaven for the ARU, given it would probably rate even better than a then-record 518,000 viewers for the Reds’ 2011 final win.

Maximising eyeballs is why all finals are all locked in as 7.40pm kick-offs and popular but poor-rating afternoon games have been ruled out.

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THE Reds haven’t had much to smile about on the field this season but they broke new ground on Thursday by announcing they’d signed up a 50,000th member.

Smiles are also set to be plentiful today — and perhaps stained- when the QRU launch their own wine: the Reds’ Red, a Shiraz Cabernet Merlot blend.

Four members of the squad — Lachie Turner, Ben Daley, James Hanson and Dom Shipperley — helped create the drop with the famous Cockfighters Ghost at their vineyard last year. It is said to be the best full-bodied red since Rodzilla.

We could mention here that the grapes had a very blue tinge, having being grown in the Hunter Valley, but we won’t.

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THE award for best spend of sponsorship dollar in rugby in 2014? Envelope please … it’s a tie! Volvo and BC Iron, come on down.

Volvo stepped up as jersey sponsors for the Waratahs after HSBC ended a loyal 12-year partnership last year. They paid half the $2m-a-year HSBC were tipping in, and are now enjoying bumper coverage courtesy of the new Super Rugby minor premiers.

But as far as exposure goes, BC Iron would be tough to beat.

The Force decided to sell individual front of jersey sponsorships this season, and the mining company landed Nick Cummins.

You know, Honey Badger, rat up a drainpipe, the whole routine. Cummins’ profile has skyrocketed this year, and ensured BC Iron has been seen all around the world. Not that they really need it. BC Iron just posted a tidy $70m half-year profit.