This could seriously change the game.

A rights bidding war could end up reshaping New Zealand’s sporting and broadcast landscapes, according to a report from the NZ Herald.

In an unprecedented move, the NZRU is expecting internet giant Amazon to throw its hat in the ring and compete for the next round of rugby broadcast rights, when they next come up for bidding ahead of the 2021 season.

The bidding process is set to come up for tenure as early as April next year.

A source familiar with the internal workings of NZ Rugby said Amazon’s interest had been obvious for at least a year:

“I knew they were sniffing around, wanting to do a documentary, but clearly a bid for the broadcasting rights was in the background.”

Sky chief executive John Fellet described his relationship with the sporting organisation for which he held rights as “symbiotic”, but declined to address the battle brewing with Amazon over rugby.

You can read more about this extraordinary story, that could change the face of rugby broadcasting here