RA to pitch wide rugby broadcast package

Rugby Australia will reportedly be able to offer bidders a broadcast package for all levels of the game from grassroots clubs to the Wallabies after signing a new deal with Club Rugby TV.

It is unclear whether the deal, to be finalised on Tuesday, involved RA buying out Club Rugby TV's current $1.25 million deal with the Seven Network, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

The new agreement will allow RA chief executive Raelene Castle to spruik a comprehensive rugby union package to the market later this week in time for the semi-professional NSW Shute Shield's season kick-off in April.

The newspaper reported that although the broadcast rights for grassroots rugby aren't lucrative, Castle felt that a whole-of-game package would be more attractive to potential broadcasters.