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I read with a strange mixture of disbelief and resignation the 18-team model proposed for Super Rugby from 2016.
Having watched the New Zealand Rugby Union tinker things up with unnecessarily complex structures for the NPC, I see this debilitating illness of the mind is spreading.
The proposal is a dog’s breakfast. It proposes four conferences of different sizes, a mooted Asian team playing in a South African conference, South African sides touring only New Zealand or Australia and somehow fewer local derbies as well.
I have never been a huge fan of the current conference system but the devil I know is starting to look better than the multi-horned apparition currently being proposed.
I understand South Africa’s desire for another team, and the desire to expand to Argentina and possibly Asia. But the structure proposed takes a sport frequently accused of having a welter of confusing rules, and gives it a confusing competition to match.
I wouldn’t relish explaining how Super Rugby worked to a foreigner in two years time and I won’t even begin to wade in on the idea of having a franchise based in Asia playing in the South African conference.
While still reeling, I thought of a number of less-confusing formats for Super Rugby’s expansion. They are presented as follows for your approval or scorn.
Option 1: No conferences
Have 17 (or 18 if you must) teams where everyone plays everyone once, and the top eight make the playoffs regardless of nationality.
There’s not too much more to be said about this one, it explains itself really.
Pros: Simplicity, and no arguments about who’s conference is the weakest
Cons: The South Africans may not like the idea of five games in Australasia every year. The bean counters may mourn the loss of lucrative local derbies, but those are reportedly reduced under the current model anyway.
Option 2: Three unequal conferences
This is the “close your eyes, put your fingers in your ears and pretend nothing has changed model”.
A six team South African conference with the existing five-team New Zealand and Australian conferences.
Go ahead, add the Southern Kings. New Zealand and Australian teams will just play four out of six South African teams and the top two South African teams (no more wildcards) make the finals along with the top two New Zealand and Australian teams.
The South African conference can start a week or two early to get their extra derbies in. The absence of wild cards is necessary to ensure South African teams don’t take the wild card spots just through racking up points from the two extra games. In practice, so far, Super Rugby has ended up with the top two from each conference anyway.
Pros: Life carries on much as it was, but the South Africans get their sixth team.
Cons: Continued interminable arguments about who’s conference is weaker. No room for an Argentinean team.
Option 3: Two uneven conferences meeting only in the finals
An Australasian conference of ten teams and a South Atlantic conference of seven or eight (depending on who they want to invite to the party) teams.
The top four from each conference play each other in the quarter-final stage.
Pros: Greatly reduced travel and the opportunity for plenty of local derbies.
Cons: Obviously an uneven conferences. The South African teams would have an easier route to the finals. Less contact between the conferences. The New Zealand Rugby Union, in particular, have stated that continued exposure to South African teams is a major factor.
Option 4: Three conferences of six
If there is a desire to expand into Asia then the New Zealand and Australian conferences are a more logical fit than the South African conference. Add one team to each.
Continue playing four teams from each of the other conferences once and each team within your conference twice.
Pros: There is an element of the status quo, with all its good and bad points.
Cons: The season gets longer yet again. Working an Argentinean team into the Australian or New Zealand conferences would be difficult.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.