- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
After reading many opinions on The Roar and in newspapers there are many views as to what the downsides of the proposed conferences format for Super Rugby in 2016 are.
The main arguments cite that it is too complicated, that there are not enough games between South African and Australasian teams, and that fans prefer domestic leagues rather than ‘fake franchises’.
However, all those who have commented have missed one crucial perspective.
And that is if you look at the new Super Rugby conferences, not from an overall view but from just one conference at a time, then it looks almost perfect.
The 2016 Super Rugby season will provide the following benefits for each group.
Australian and New Zealand Group
It will feature a 10-team trans-Tasman competition, with one game against a team from Argentina or Japan. There will be a comprehensive finals series against the strongest African team and the four best from the Australia and New Zealand. There is also room to grow in 2020, with new teams in Japan to be added if desired, or additional teams from either Australia or New Zealand.
South African Group
This will feature a strong domestic league comprising of six professional team, with four games held against Australian or New Zealand sides. Two games will be played against Argentinean or Japanese teams each year, and there will be a reduction in overseas travel.
There will be participation in a comprehensive three-week playoff against the best in Australia and New Zealand, with at least the top two teams from South Africa getting a place to play against the top six from those two regions.
Crucially, there will be room to grow in 2020, with a possibility of adding two more South African teams to make it an eight-side completely domestic league.
As you can see, when you look at it from within each group, the 2016 Super Rugby season has been arranged to satisfy what everybody has been asking for – domestic growth in South Africa and Australia.
When these markets are ready it seems likely more Super Rugby teams will be added, or if desired all nations can go towards a champions league format.
The main point is that Super Rugby is splitting down the middle, not in order to separate but to enable growth in the two hemispheres. That growth may well entail in reverting to a champions league format.
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.