Financial heavyweight has big plans for world rugby

New Zealanders may not have heard a great deal about the role private equity giant CVC Capital partners is playing in British rugby but signs are they are set to turn their attention to the world game.

CVC has been in talks to secure a 14 percent stake in Six Nations rugby, a deal believed to be worth around 300 million-pound. Television rights had been an issue but it is understood that impediment has been cleared. CVC is also looking for a 27 percent share in the PRO14 competition, worth around 120-million pound. It already has a 27 percent share of England's Premiership worth 200-million pound.

But the Financial Times has reported the company is now in talks with World Rugby and the New Zealand and South African unions which would make CVC the 'biggest commercial player' in rugby.

The newspaper said CVC is looking to bundle the television rights of competitions around the world into a single package. At the same time, it is also studying streaming deals with Amazon to create an over-the-top (OTT) subscription service.

Also on CVC's reported agenda is a Club World Cup tournament similar to that Fifa has in soccer.

The Financial Times reported World Rugby chief executive Brett Gosper as saying: "There's an understanding that CVC are an investor in the sport and a supporter of important member unions of ours.

"Therefore, it's best that we work together with them where possible rather than be in a situation that we're not in dialogue."

It is likely that the plans to stage a Nations' Championship will be revisited. It was dropped last year, in spite of its six billion pounds price tag because top-tier countries wouldn't support it.

The Financial Times claimed CVC was in 'advanced discussions' with South Africa. While there have been rumours of the South Africans switching from the Rugby Championship to the Six Nations, that wasn't necessarily part of CVC's plans.