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The board of Australian Rugby Union have been presented with a radical proposal for the future of Super Rugby, which would see Australia and South Africa lose a provincial side, reducing the tournament to 16 teams.
It was one of many proposals presented by SANZAAR’s consultants Accenture; others included South Africa dropping two teams, another featuring a further expansion of the ever-evolving ‘domestic’ competition.
The current 18-team format was criticised by fans and experts in the build up and throughout the 2016 competition.
It was hailed as being overcomplicated, with a broken conference system involving too many teams in different time zones. The height of confusion came in the finals series where the Brumbies were awarded a home quarter-final despite finishing with fewer competition points than their opponents, the Highlanders.
SANZAAR hope to see a recommended model within the next month or so, casting their final decision be the end of the year.
Fairfax media reported that the ARU board discussed the possibility of giving up one of their Super Rugby licenses, with the struggling Western Force and Melbourne Rebels believed to be in the firing line.
The Western Force were absorbed by the ARU earlier this year after financial issues forced their hand. ARU CEO Bill Pulver will not like losing a team, long spruiking the need for a national rugby union footprint, despite the franchise’s poor results on and off the field since their introduction in 2006.
Despite receiving a cash injection from the new $285 million broadcast deal, the ARU informed the five teams that they would be reducing their funds by $500,000 after the three-year sponsorship from Asteron Life ended at the conclusion of the 2016 season. They also failed to secure a naming rights sponsor for the June Test series against England and the Rugby Championship.
The Brumbies could also crumble as they tilt on the edge of an $8 million court case with Casino insider John Beagle, who claims he is owed a broker fee for linking naming rights sponsor Aquis to the ACT franchise.
Elsewhere in Australia, the Waratahs and the Reds seem the most financially stable, despite the Queensland franchise reporting a loss of $1 million last year. The NSW franchise registered a small profit of $100,000.
What are your thoughts Roarers? Should Australia continue with five teams? Or should they hit the kill-switch on one of the struggling franchises?
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.