Cameron Hill

And the potential financial benefits of hosting a tour were made plain earlier this week.

Rugby Australia reported a surplus of $70.6 million Australian dollars for 2025.

That's a $100 million swing from their reported deficit in the region of $30 million for 2024.

And it's largely down to the tourism generated from last summer's tour.

The proposed takeover of Cardiff by the owners of fellow Welsh side Ospreys has fallen through, according to the Welsh Rugby Union.

Y11 Sport and Media had been identified as the preferred option by the WRU, entering a period of exclusivity with the union.

That expired last month and then got a 30-day extension running until yesterday.

The union then confirmed last night that both parties had jointly agreed the Ospreys owners will withdraw from the bid process.

It means that Cardiff will remain under the stewardship of the WRU for now.

The union are planning to pursue their aim of axing one professional side, but that appears to be delayed until 2028.

Ospreys and Scarlets, who are most at risk of being discontinued, now look set to sign Welsh rugby's latest professional rugby agreement, which runs until 2030 with a break clause in 2028.

Cardiff and Dragons signed the agreement last year.

And finally today, the excitement is continuing to build ahead of finals day of the Energia All-Ireland League this Sunday.

Now we heard from UL Bowes captain Chloe Pearce and Blackrock College skipper Hannah O'Connor yesterday.

They'll contest the women's decider.

The men's Division 1A final at the Aviva Stadium pits defending champions Clontarf against St Mary's, who are chasing a first title since 2012.

They're captained by former Connacht and Ireland under-20s out-half Conor Dean.

They only returned to the top flight last term and missed out on last year's final with defeat at home to Cork in the last four.

Dean says losing that semi-final has been key to their preparations this time around.

Tarff, meanwhile, can become the first team to make it back-to-back titles since Shannon claimed three in a row in 2006.