Four nations must get slice of the pie

THE British & Irish Lions must get a slice of television revenue from future tours to New Zealand, South Africa and Australia if it is to receive the continued backing of the home rugby unions, Lions chief executive John Feehan has said.

The Lions currently do not receive a cut of the broadcast deal struck by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp with the Tri-Nations umbrella organisation, South Africa New Zealand Australia Rugby (SANZAR).

Primarily a TV deal for Tri-Nations and Super 12 rights, Lions tours also fall under the package but without British and Irish rugby seeing a cent.