Channel 10 have parted company with Australian rugby union legend Matt Burke.
Amid the media shake-up that has engulfed Australian sport of late, it seems Channel 10 are also making changes to their broadcasting teams and have sacked the former Wallabies legend.
It comes as Channel Seven and Channel Nine have both made changes to their AFL broadcasting teams, with Leigh Matthews joining the exodus at Nine, while Kane Cornes and Caroline Wilson have also moved from Channel Nine to Channel Seven.
According to the Daily Telegraph, Burk, who won the Rugby World Cup with Australia in 1999, had learned of his decision last Friday and his role as chief sports presenter is due to end in December.
It will bring an end to his 11-year spell with the broadcaster, after Burke first joined Channel 10 back in October 2013, initially presenting 10 News First in Sydney. Burke, 51, has been presenting sport’s news bulletins on the network since.
‘After more than a decade, Matt Burke, sports presenter for 10 News First Sydney will be departing the Network at the end of the year,’ a Channel 10 spokesperson said.
‘Matt joined Network 10 in 2013 as an expert commentator for the 2013 British and Irish Lions tour to Australia and a few months later was appointed as the permanent sports presenter for 10 News First Sydney.
Channel 10 have sacked Australian rugby union legend and chief sports reporter Matt Burke
The former full-back won 81 caps for the Wallabies and scored 878 points at international level
Burke (right) has been working with Channel 10 since 2013, and will leave the network in December
‘Matt fronted all of Network 10’s Rugby broadcasts from 2013 until 2019 and was integral in the Network’s live coverage of the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.’
‘Matt is one of the most versatile and experienced sports presenters on Australian television and his passion and enthusiasm for sports, but particularly Rugby is remarkable.
‘His infectious love of sport, great sense of humour and optimism will be missed in the newsroom.
‘Matt leaves Network 10 with our sincere thanks and warmest wishes for the future.’
During his athletic career, the versatile back, who often starred as a full-back or centre, would be capped for the Wallabies 81 times, scoring a whopping 878 points at international level. At domestic level, Burke enjoyed spells in Australia and the United Kingdom, playing for the Waratahs before joining up with Newcastle Falcons in 2004.
Burke, who was also capped for the Barbarians, reportedly declined to comment on his Channel 10 exit when contacted by the Daily Telegraph.
Burke declined to comment on the sacking reports, but a spokesperson from the network thanked him for his work adding ‘he will be missed in the newsroom’
The 51-year-old former rugby star had learned of the news on Friday
The outlet reports that it had been in contact with a senior figure at the broadcaster who had claimed, speaking under anonymity, that Burke had been treated poorly and that colleagues were ‘gutted’ by his departure.
‘He’s been treated terribly. Everyone loves Matty at Channel 10,’ the source said to the Daily Telegraph.
‘He’s the ultimate television pro and popular throughout the newsroom. We’re actually gutted.’
More to follow…
