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Super expansion offers big opportunities 

Roar Guru
20th July, 2014
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Ged Robinson of the Rebels scores a try during the round 9 Super Rugby match between the Melbourne Rebels and the Southern Kings in Melbourne, Saturday, April 13, 2013. (AAP Image/Mark Dadswell
Roar Guru
20th July, 2014
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There has been a lot of conjecture recently about the expansion of Super Rugby into Asia. Fuelling much of the debate was the announcement by SANZAR that the 18th and final side to be added to the Super Rugby competition in 2016 will come from either Singapore or Japan.

While both are exciting concepts, as current Japan coach Eddie Jones pointed out with Japan growing in stature as an international side and with the World Cup being staged there in 2019, it would be madness if they were not handed the franchise. 

The strength of Singapore’s bid appears to be on the serious commercial potential of such a venture as well as it’s closer proximity to South Africa, whose conference it would be a part of.

Whether you love or hate the idea of this expansion, you have to hand it to SANZAR for at least being bold enough to go after this new market.

The main problem is likely to be that the side that enters the competition will be little more than whipping boys – think the Melbourne Rebels – and fans may disengage as a result. Obviously SANZAR are being driven by the fact that the potential commercial upside is significant particularly when it comes time for TV rights negotiations.

There is a real opportunity in this expansion particularly for Australia and New Zealand, provided they are willing to again grasp change and move on from their fixed selection policies of the past.

The policy that I am referring to is that of only selecting players for Test sides who currently play their domestic rugby within the confines of each respective national border. I am not criticising this policy as it has proved extremely successful to date and in all likelihood has allowed both nations to survive and remain competitive in an increasingly cut throat environment.

Perhaps though with the expansion of Super Rugby into new frontiers, it is now time for a re-think. 

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Even the greatest optimists in the world would have trouble convincing themselves that an Asian based franchise could be anything but cannon fodder in the competition without serious foreign player involvement.

Realistically, out of a possible squad of 30, this Asian franchise will likely need a minimum of 20 foreign players initially just to be competitive. And therein lies the opportunity.

Why can’t the ARU and New Zealand Rugby Union agree a way in which players are drafted to the new Asian franchise while remaining centrally contracted to their national union and therefore remaining eligible for international duty? They could agree a model where they pay a fraction of the players salary costs yet rather than losing a player offshore they actually increase their prospective player pool.

Rugby players are no different to other young people, they too seek new experiences and environments. This model would allow players who are looking for new experiences to do so without the pitfall of then losing the ability to play international rugby.

The likes of Hosea Gear, Ben Mowan, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Matt GIteau, Carl Hayman or Drew Mitchell could have all sought to broaden their horizons while also bumping up their salaries and without giving up on further international rugby like under the current model. This could have kept Nick Cummins within Australia Rugby.

Surely this would be better for the Springboks too. Rather than having the likes of Bakkies Botha and Bryan Habana toiling away for 12 months, wouldn’t it be better to have them playing in Japan or Singapore where their season aligns and overlaps with South Africa’s?

This leads me to Argentina. The only way Argentina will be truly successful is if their players return to the Southern Hemisphere competitions permanently. It is just not physically possible for the Pumas to be expected to play for ten months with their club sides in Europe and then front up for the Rugby Championship and deliver their best possible performances. Perhaps in a way that doesn’t undermine the new Argentinian franchise, the new Asian side could recruit heavily on Argentinian players. Likewise Pacific Island players too.

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Once all is said and done, there is no argument that the global rugby landscape is changing and perhaps it’s time for the national bodies to change with it.

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