They’re in! Melbourne awarded Super 15 licence
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By AAP, 12 Nov 2009 AAP is a Roar Pro
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Australian Rugby Union chief executive John O'Neill - AP Photo/Mark Baker
Melbourne will play in an expanded Super 15 competition in 2011 after the Australian start-up franchise was given the nod ahead of South Africa’s Southern Kings.
SANZAR appointed a two-man panel of experts after initially being unable to make a unanimous decision and announced on Wednesday that Melbourne would be the new team.
The panel said Melbourne provided greater commercial benefit to SANZAR than the Southern Kings, from Eastern Cape Province.
“This is a vote for commonsense,” said ARU chief executive John O’Neill.
“Equally we want to recognise that the bid put forward for the Southern Kings was a very good one and it took an even better bid for Melbourne to win out.
“At some point in time, SANZAR will no doubt enjoy the company of the Southern Kings.
“However, at the moment, this is the right decision for SANZAR and it’s a momentous day for Australian rugby and the people of Melbourne.”
The Super 15 will comprise five teams from each of Australia, South Africa and New Zealand.
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Working Class Rugger said | November 12th 2009 @ 6:17am | Report comment
Well, this was entirely unexpected
. It was always going to Melbourne/Victoria. And I think everyone involved will walk away happy. We get a 5th team and the SARFU look as though they gave it a real dig before having the decision taken away from them. Everyone for the most part and now they can get on with the Media deal. My only problem is it took about 5-6 months longer than it should have.
Once the media deal is wrapped, I’d like to suggest that the ARU start working with the Western Sydney consortium on their bid for a future expansion by developing the region extensively. Even if it take 5-10 years, by investing in the area the returns would be more than worth it.
Rickety Knees said | November 12th 2009 @ 7:44am | Report comment
Spot on WCR – the sooner JON get’s serious about Western Sydney the better!
Dan said | November 12th 2009 @ 4:55pm | Report comment
I don’t know if it’s just me, but it the idea of a Western Sydney team seems to go against the nature of the Super Rugby tournament… How can you have a team from Western Sydney in the same competition as a team supposedly representing NSW? I know they’re franchises now and its not strictly true anymore, but I think it would just be weird to see a western Sydney side playing in the S14. It would be kind of like including the Brumbies in the Tri Nations to make it a four nations. Again, I understand that these sides aren’t really rep teams anymore, but still, it just somehow seems to undermine and cheapen the idea of Super Rugby to me. I’m all for getting western Sydney more into Rugby, but this should be done through the formation of a national tournament, not the S14/15… the players from Western Sydney should want to play FOR the Tahs, not against them. Perhaps we could start by playing some preseason NSW Tah matches out west or even around the state in places like Newcastle and the Central coast? Maybe we can end the SFS’s monopoly on the Tahs and spread the games around a little (even if it’s only 1 or 2 regular season matches a year). My point is that the Tahs belong to all of NSW and they need to start reflecting that.
cam said | November 12th 2009 @ 9:48am | Report comment
Well said WCR.
Crashy said | November 12th 2009 @ 6:20am | Report comment
Rebels get up!!! This is a great result for Australian Rugby. There is no doubt our depth will be tested but as the size of the existing Super 14 squads in Aus are being reduced. ( NZ have 28 players per squad – we apparently have a few more), this will present opportunity to players that aren’t first choice.
There are as many rugby players in VIC as league players even without a professional team so I would imagine that we will see a massive increase in player numbers in VIC – as we are seeing in Perth to some degree.
With rugby 7s in the Olympics and a 5th Aussie team in a revamped Super tournament, not only will this put a lot lot more of the folding stuff in the coffers of the ARU, but give rugby fans more rugby!
Now JON, please spend spend spend on grass roots development and set us up for the future.
cam said | November 12th 2009 @ 9:53am | Report comment
Yeah good post Crashy. I really think rugby will start growing again from next year in this country. We have Waratahs and Brumbies with 2 very good squads next year, we have the Rugby world cup in NZ in 2011 and that should get a lot of publicity here. And as you said rugby in the Olympics from 2016.
With this Melbourne team rugby in victoria will grow at an even stronger pace which will help Australian rugby. I am stoked!
Crashy said | November 12th 2009 @ 6:25am | Report comment
I think the main thing we can take from this is…
a.) rugby has forged a spot in one of the world’s most sport’smad cities.
b.) Rugby is hardly a foreign code with the number of clubs present in VIC.
c.) There is an established Schools ( albeit private) competition.
and most importantly Rugby isn’t trying to take on AFL ( unlike our Diet Rugby chums) as this battle will never be won. The sooner the other codes realise it, the more they can focus on promoting their own code.
Sadly for the reds I think Ione may come back home.
This is a good result and will be interesting to see The Rebels turn a profit each year unlike the Storm who is perennially bleeding so much cash that is potentially holding up the growth of their code.
The Link said | November 12th 2009 @ 9:41am | Report comment
So you already have the Rebels operating at a profit!! With such sage vision at your disposal, can you give me the lottery numbers for next week?
No one is waging a war on AFL in Melbourne.
cam said | November 12th 2009 @ 9:55am | Report comment
Good points again Crashy. No point trying to take on AFL, it’s the king here but I know even some of the AFL fans will support a rugby team. Most of hte kiwis, PIs, Brits, Irish, Argies and saffers living in Melbourne will support the rugby team. I think Storm won’t be too happy haha.
Atawhai Drive said | November 12th 2009 @ 6:41am | Report comment
Wonderful news for that hotbed of rugby union, Victoria. Think of all the promising young rugby players in Geelong, Bendigo and Wangaratta who can now aim for the stars.
Crashy said | November 12th 2009 @ 6:49am | Report comment
Here we go Atahai – good constructive comment. The same could be said about this new western sydney AFL team – just another hotbed of Aussie rules….. That baby is going to bleed a whole lot of cash and come close to destroying the swans.
I can see the second row position appeal to more than a few of the Aussie rules players
Aaron said | November 12th 2009 @ 6:51am | Report comment
Now all we need are players…. way to water down the talent pool
jus de couchon said | November 12th 2009 @ 6:54am | Report comment
Victoria ? Rugby ?Youre taking the P . Aus is already overacheiving by finding 15 decent rugga players to tour up here . The Irish are about to give them a reality check this weekend .Surely a P.I team would have been more interesting. I can see a load of 2nd rate , overated League players joining the dregs and rejects of N.S.W and QNSLD to drag down the S.15 to basement level .
PastHisBest said | November 12th 2009 @ 9:29am | Report comment
“Surely a P.I team would have been more interesting.”
Perhaps, but not for Melbournians or broadcasters.
anopinion said | November 12th 2009 @ 9:31pm | Report comment
The Brumbies started with all the Qld and NSW dregs. look how well they did.
CraigB said | November 12th 2009 @ 7:00am | Report comment
good to see the trolls out early.
anopinion said | November 12th 2009 @ 9:34pm | Report comment
This troll stuff people go on with. Can you stop? If we did not like it we would not come to this site. It is like kids who have learned a word the older kids are using and want to try it on.
Bay35Pablo said | November 12th 2009 @ 9:47pm | Report comment
Meh, go onto a video gamers site some time. It makes this lot look like gentlemen ….
Redb said | November 12th 2009 @ 7:09am | Report comment
Excellent news.
Pete said | November 12th 2009 @ 11:41am | Report comment
RedB, its great to see an AFL supporter get behind this news! If only my League brethren were as supportive of the Western Sydney AFL team, instead of instulting the game and calling it cr*p etc…
I guess it has more to do with the health of the Codes. AFL is seen as a threat to RL, whilst Union in Victoria will be well supported, but never erode AFLs support. Welcome to Super Rugby!
Redb said | November 12th 2009 @ 2:00pm | Report comment
I’m glad they made the right decision. Rugby will do well in Melbourne, new stadium perfect timing,etc.
Andrew Sutherland said | November 12th 2009 @ 7:11am | Report comment
1997: “Victoria? Rugby League? You’re taking the P.”
Don’t worry jus, Melbourne will make a competition of it., perhaps even dominate it. Even the ‘reject’ Rebels made the final.
Brett McKay said | November 12th 2009 @ 7:14am | Report comment
guys, please, let’s not go this way yet again…