Loading "I think [last week's developments] are deeply concerning," he said. "Ten has been the free to air broadcaster and a major advocate for rugby in Australia for the best part of the last decade - I think the events of last week have been shameful. We are very concerned at what this means for the game." Anderson's comments came as major doubts surfaced over whether Optus would be in a position to restart talks with RA over its next instalment of broadcast rights. Before the coronavirus outbreak hit in March, the telco was days away from making a formal offer for the next five years' worth of Wallabies Tests, Super Rugby matches and a new national club competition. Optus and Rugby Australia agreed to suspend talks for six months, but a senior source in the telco told the Herald that the Singapore-based business would not be in a position to restart negotiations for "12 months".

RA sources had no knowledge of that change in timeline but conceded it would be a "concerning" development if Optus was not in a position to bid for the rights to the code for 2021 and beyond. Rugby is in the final eight months of a five-year deal with loyal partner Foxtel. Relations soured between the organisations over Castle's decision not to take Foxtel's first renewal offer or respond with a counter-offer last October, instead choosing to take the rights to market. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video But RA may be forced to seek a one-year extension with Foxtel if Optus confirms it needs more time, a potentially catastrophic scenario for the game. While RA and Foxtel are in continuous dialogue over the possible resumption of Super Rugby this year, it is far from clear whether the News Corp-controlled subscription-TV provider will have the money to invest in the game.

Loading Foxtel chief Patrick Delany is likely to look first at shoring up an extension with the NRL and then see what it has left to put towards rugby and Supercars, which is also up for renewal. It could leave rugby in a parlous position, with no major domestic buyer for its wares in 2021. Influential new director Peter Wiggs and McLean are likely to take control of the process after Castle's exit, with the help of broadcast consultants Shane Mattiske and Michael Tange. The 2021 rights process had been put on the backburner while the organisation tried to figure out what rugby could be played this year.