The Rugby League Ashes is set for a long-awaited revival after more than two decades, and Australian fans will be able to watch it exclusively on Foxtel. The broadcaster, now under the ownership of global sports streaming service DAZN, has announced that it will air the three-match series between Australia and England, scheduled to take place in the UK this autumn.
A Historic Contest Returns
The Ashes, last contested in 2003 when Australia sealed a 3-0 victory, has been staged 39 times in total. This year marks a new chapter as Australia faces a standalone England team, with previous editions featuring a combined Great Britain side.
The series will be staged across three iconic venues in England:
- Wembley Stadium, London (October 26)
- Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool (November 2)
- Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds (November 9)
Foxtel’s Broader Rugby League Coverage
Alongside the Ashes, Foxtel will also air the 2025 Men’s and Women’s Pacific Championship (October 19 – November 9).
- The men’s competition will feature New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, and the Cook Islands, with Australia absent due to its Ashes commitments.
- The women’s competition will include Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga, and the Cook Islands.
These rights further strengthen Foxtel’s rugby league offering, which already includes a seven-year domestic NRL deal(worth an estimated AUD 200 million per season until 2027) and coverage of England’s Super League, which is set to expand in 2026.
Consolidating a Sports Portfolio
The agreement comes just months after DAZN completed its A$3.4 billion acquisition of Foxtel, ensuring the Australian operator retains its brand identity while aligning under DAZN’s global streaming strategy. The acquisition included repayment of shareholder loans and granted minority equity stakes in DAZN to News Corp (6%) and Telstra (3%).
Foxtel has been proactive in securing premium rights as competition in the Australian market intensifies. Earlier this year, rival Nine Network acquired English Premier League rights from Optus Sport. Foxtel responded by renewing its carriage deal with ESPN, retaining access to NBA, WNBA, NFL, MLB, UFC, and NHL broadcasts — reinforcing its position as a comprehensive sports destination.
Strategic Significance
For Foxtel, the Ashes deal represents more than nostalgia. It reflects a strategy to:
- Differentiate through heritage properties (like the Ashes) that drive deep emotional engagement.
- Balance premium domestic rights (NRL) with global content that attracts diverse audiences.
- Leverage DAZN’s global network to future-proof its offering against rising competitors in sports streaming.
The Rugby League Ashes revival is not just a sporting spectacle — it is a media rights play that strengthens Foxtel’s positioning in a fragmented broadcast market while showcasing DAZN’s ambition to expand its global sports footprint.
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IMAGE: Rugby League
