New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) chairman Jack Hobbs says SANZAR will fold if issues surrounding a new deal aren’t sorted out.
Officials from New Zealand, South Africa and Australia are pressing for a solution to the Sanzar impasse over the future of Super rugby.
New Zealand officials are also investigating an alternative Asia-Pacific competition with Australia.
South Africa remains at loggerheads with its trans-Tasman partners over a new broadcast deal for an expanded Super competition, which has to be presented to broadcasters News Ltd by June 30.
The impasse involves South Africa’s domestic Currie Cup competition, for which broadcasting rights have sold, with the South African union saying its provinces are reluctant to shift its dates.
There is also dispute over when the Super competition should start and whether Australia or South Africa should get the 15th team.
Hobbs said on Thursday he could not give assurances the impasse would be resolved.
“There a couple of outstanding issues. We have narrowed them down, but unless they are resolved it is likely SANZAR relationship will fold,” he said during a break at the NZRU’s annual meeting in Wellington.
“That is not our hope, that is not what we would wish for, and not what we are working towards achieving but it is a possibility.”
He said New Zealand officials had been quite open with South Africa and that, while negotiating with it on an expanded Super 14, they were also looking at alternatives such as an Asia-Pacific competition with Australia.
“That is not our preference. Our preference is that SANZAR does stay together.
“We think that is best for rugby and the best way forward. We have a couple of hurdles to get over and we have to get over them very, very quickly. Time is ticking.”
However, having worked on the 2005 SANZAR negotiations, he said it was not unusual for a difficult protracted process to occur.
“It is something we have been through before.”
NZRU chief executive Steve Tew said while New Zealand had its domestic rugby competitions protected, the South Africans were adamant about their Currie Cup while Australia was just desperate for more rugby.
“They are three quite diverse drivers. We are trying hard, we have tried to play more of a middle ground role in this negotiation and we are going to continue to play that role and hopefully we will get there,” he said.
“The South Africans are adamant there are things they can’t agree to with the latest (deal) version that we have been working on, and we are still working with them in that regard.”
Knives Out
Guest
I completely support SA. O'Neill is antagonistic and short-term orinetated. He has no comprehension of the rugby context. SA is the one 3N country that is avoiding the Super rugby apathy.
Laurens K
Guest
From a south african perspective. We also feel we should split this failed relationship. We are the country that brings money to this game with viewers, crowd attendances etc. Look at the crowds in Aus and NZ! It has been diminishing for a couple of years now. We are tired of getting screwed by the ridiculous tour schedules, and biased Aus referees. Look at what happened in the last RWC when there was non-biased refs. Both NZ and Aus bombed out. The only reason why your O'neil, or whatever his name is, wants this system, is due to the fact that AUS can basically never get more than one side in the play-offs. Look at the stats. Now you will guarantee two sides. Very clever. At least SA has a proper domestic league. The NZ one is played with almost no crowds, and Aus, oh oops, you don't even have one. Let's all agree that everyone will be much happier with a split. Go play against the Islanders. Oh oops again, they are already all playing for your s 14 teams and fills a large portion of your national sides. So not many left. I am also sure that Japan is really going to be competitive. Good luck and good riddens
Billo
Guest
Five Aussie teams ( a new franchise for Melbourne that included some games in Adelaide) and the current five NZ teams should play in a ten-team league, home and away with play-offs. I think that comp could be developed for both nations' advantage, and would be more attractive than the current Super 14.
zzzz
Guest
I agree Sin-ick - a trans-Tasman home and away comp of reasonable length would be a lot more marketable here than S14 09. Our local derbys would be livened up and maybe it would facilitate a nationally coordinated approach more like NZ's system. Melbourne desperately needs a team -no matter where the players are from they would be a hit - just look at the Storm. This comp could easily be expanded and if necessary the double round-robin format could be altered as NRL have done. If SARU are happy with their main cash cow the Currie cup we can't expect them to change it. Same applies to NZ's provincial comp. Ditching South Africa would do a lot to lessen player fatigue too. I think its misguided to try expanding the S14 given the current standard of officiating, coaching and playing. What I'm talking about is aerial ping-pong, confusion at the breakdown and scrumtime, defences offside, etc. Its gruelling enough for die-hard fans to sit thru some of this tosh - I can't really imagine people who enjoy other codes getting much out of S14 09. Adelaide has to be lauded for being part of the 7s circuit - I reckon 7s is a powerful tool to showcase rugby and it should be an integral part of developing grass roots rugby. To be a product rugby has to be entertaining, and we all know it can be. The glaring problems we've seen this year have to be solved before the game can really have a solid foundation.
Sin-ick
Guest
What a surprise. SARU are once again stalling any advance in the Super Rugby product by not being able to see the bigger picture and do what is right for the sport. Instead they have this “What can the game do for us” attitude. One suggestion that should be considered is to break ties with South African Rugby altogether. The SAZAR alliance is one that has out stayed it’s welcome and it’s time to bite the bullet and get on with producing a product that the consumers deserve. So what does these mean for the future of the Super 14? A Super 10 comp, comprising of 5 teams from each country. If this means adding a Melbourne or South Australian team into the comp, great. If a Pacific Islands or Japanese team was involved, also good. The format would be a home and away style competition that ran for 20 week. Starting in March, this would put the finals somewhere around the start of August, which would be a great time to start the international season. With 10 home games for each club, more local derby’s and broadcasters getting more viewer friendly timeslots, this would be a great solution to a Super Rugby format that is getting stale and need of a revamp. It’s time to cast SARU aside and look to the future.