Harvey Norman has decided to end their sponsorship deal with Rugby Australia, following the departure of Hamish McLennan. The company spokesperson confirmed that their contract is set to expire at the end of December, and they have chosen not to renew it. This decision comes after McLennan was replaced as chairman by Dan Herbert, and it’s reported that Cadbury, another sponsor brought on by McLennan, is also concerned about the state of the game post his departure.
In other rugby news, New Zealand’s head coach Ian Foster has expressed his frustration with a late call from referee Wayne Barnes in the World Cup final. Foster believes the All Blacks should have been awarded a penalty late in the game, and has stated that he will “never get over” the decision. Meanwhile, England’s Owen Farrell has returned from the World Cup with a desire to prolong his career and possibly play through to the 2027 tournament in Australia. Farrell, who led England to a third-place finish, is passionate about the sport and wants to continue playing for as long as he is excited about it. He is currently focused on helping Saracens challenge for silverware in the upcoming season.