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Super Rugby is slowly dying – only expansion and larger TV contracts have kept it going so far.
However the constant loss of quality players, such as Liam Gill, James Horwill, and Will Genia, each year to avaricious European clubs means Super Rugby is losing its quality. This leads to smaller audiences and thus lower TV contracts.
In addition, the player drain is hurting the Wallabies, as we cannot afford to constantly lose quality players. Unless someone appears out of the blue, by 2017 our flanker situation will be down to one or two international-standard players.
This is similar to the years before 1995, when rugby union existed on the smell of an oily rag and rugby league bought all our good players.
The only way southern hemisphere rugby can battle the chequebooks of European clubs is to introduce Super Rugby into markets with lots of cash and TV audiences. They have taken one step by bringing Japan and Argentina into Super Rugby, but it needs to go further.
The solution is to introduce western America into Super Rugby. Bring in two teams, say from California and western Canada.
The major problems are playing games in their summer and the travel schedule. But these can be mitigated by playing night games, and keeping the conference system.
California alone has as many residents as England or France, just imagine pulling it off – the rewards of cracking that US market would be huge, because interest from even a few per cent is big money.
People will say the idea is ridiculous, but you don’t win if you don’t try, even if it is leftfield.
As for suggestions the Super Rugby season is too short to make a quid, the obvious answer is to extend the season. Reduce the loss-making June internationals to just two weekends, and with the California and Canada teams – plus Japan and the Jaguares – the competition could run from late February to mid August.
Run the Rugby Championship from late August onwards, and possibly include USA into the mix for that comp, as international rugby would be so much better if we could get the Americans up to speed. The non-internationals can play in a revised NRC (no mickey mouse teams please).
In this fashion, rugby will be played from February to October, with extra games on the end of year tours. Everyone gets lots of games and there is more money in the pot.
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.