Melbourne has won endorsement from the ARU Board as Australia’s sole contender for the 15th Super Rugby licence.
The hugely-popular provincial competition will expand by one team in 2011 with the SANZAR joint venture to decide later this year on where the new side will be established.
While the 15th team will play in the Australian Conference as part of a revamped and extended Super Rugby format, interested parties in South Africa and New Zealand are also bidding to have the side based within their national boundaries.
“It was for this reason that the ARU Board accepted a recommendation from Management to put forward only one bid to the next stage of the selection process,” said ARU Managing Director and CEO John O’Neill.
“The decision to be made by SANZAR before the end of the year is not where in Australia the team will be based – but in which country.
“Therefore, it will be in the ARU’s best interests to proceed with what we consider to be our best and most compelling option.”
There were seven Expressions of Interest initially lodged with the ARU – three from Melbourne, and one each from Western Sydney, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast and NSW Country.
NSW Country withdrew from the race last week as ARU senior management travelled to each of the regions to discuss their ability to meet the SANZAR criteria for Super Rugby participation.
In finally settling on Melbourne, the ARU has also called on the three parties from Victoria who put forward separate Expressions of Interest to join forces to ensure Australia’s prospects of securing the 15th Super Rugby licence are maximized.
“We want to make sure the 15th team is in Australia; thus the ARU will facilitate the potential for a seamless and sensible amalgamation of those interested parties. It will surely put us in the best position possible,” Mr O’Neill said.
“There are elements in each of the Melbourne EOI’s that ensure the sum of the parts will be extremely powerful. They offered a variety of advantages – from the proven ability to operate and finance a professional sporting franchise to delivering on crucial Community Rugby activities. We intend to align these components in a sensible format of ownership.
“At this stage in the evolution of Super Rugby, we believe Melbourne has the best chance of success.
“We are in a three-nation race for the licence and we want the 15th team in Australia. So we need to focus our energy on what will be our most compelling bid.
“However, that is not to say we are turning our backs on other areas that we consider extremely important to our strategic plans and future development.”
SANZAR has indicated the expansion of Super Rugby will not necessarily end with the move to 15 teams in 2011.
A new competition format – where five teams will play in an Australian Conference, five in a South African Conference and five in a New Zealand Conference – will offer the option of increasing those numbers to six or more per Conference at a later stage.
Other expansion options would also be available if teams outside the SANZAR nations were to be included in the competition.
“We believe Western Sydney, Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast all have great prospects for the future,” said Mr O’Neill.
“At this stage, though, Sunshine Coast does not have a stadium.
“Gold Coast and Western Sydney certainly had strong applications and we are absolutely determined to grow the game in the western suburbs of Sydney where the junior numbers are strong and the population continues to increase.
“This is not the end of the aspirations those regions have to be part of Super Rugby.
“It’s simply a matter of looking at where the game is now, how far the respective parties have gone down the path of preparing themselves for potential entry to the Super Rugby competition, and making a decision on the best contender.
“ARU Management took to the ARU Board a recommendation that Melbourne was our best chance of securing a fifth Australian team.
“The Board, after significant thought and discussion, gave a unanimous endorsement to that recommendation.”
ARU will now pass on its endorsement of Melbourne to SANZAR, with the joint venture to decide shortly about how many interested parties will be asked to make formal bids for the right to establish the 15th team.
A final decision from SANZAR on the successful bidder is expected in late October.
The winning bid will field a fifth team in the Australian Conference alongside the NSW Waratahs, Brumbies, Western Force and Queensland Reds.
Under the Conference system that will be introduced along with the additional team, each side will play the other four in its Conference on a home and away basis for a total of eight “local derbies”.
Each team will also play four of the five sides in the other two Conferences – on a home or away basis – for a further eight matches.
If the 15th team is based in Australia, the number of regular season games in Australia will increase from 26 to 40 – an increase of 54%.
The total number of matches in the competition will increase from 91 to 120 – an increase of 32%.
The playoffs will also expand to include six teams rather than four. The finals will last three weeks as opposed to two. There will be five games instead of three.
The length of the competition will also increase from 16 weeks presently to 21 weeks in 2011.
Pippinu
Roar Guru
Who? Me?? :)
MyGeneration
Roar Guru
I'd love to understand how you guys only every see one side of things :-D
Redb
Roar Guru
Amen to that Pip. Just like TV ratings, media treatment,etc. They dont want to understand. Redb
Pippinu
Roar Guru
Dave I've given up trying to explain to people how the AFL's policy works - they were streaks ahead of the rest of the world (at the time) and yet got lambasted for it.
Pippinu
Roar Guru
MyGen Sheek told me about it in the first place! Also - agreed - this "Reply" function can be a touch infuriating at times.
The Link
Guest
There is no unlimited interchange in the NRL
MyGeneration
Roar Guru
Why does this system only allow a certain number of replies?!? Anyway, Pip, to take up that point about the article you provided the link to (somewhere up there), it probably is Sydney-centric, but it's not as if you're not Melbourne-centric (as comes out every time the analysis of TV ratings comes up). We all have our biases, and that article's biases are not hidden, which is in it's favour. And besides, you were the one who found it for us! :-)
Dave
Guest
Pippinu your right, they are wrong about Sailor. Sailor was tested positive in....... in-competiton testing. The AFL does these tests as well with the same penalities.
oliver
Guest
I just hope if melbourne is the 15th team that there is a fairer selection process and that the cast offs from nsw aren't automatically in the side. Looking at the players nsw dont even consider would be a good place to start and hopefully players are selected on form.
JF
Guest
ART, looks as though both teams represent our nation in different ways. I'm sure its the Kangaroos for some people, Im sure its the Cricketers for others, all represent our country - you cant say that the footballers 'best' represent us. You have to realise that although the socceroos represent many australians, there are also many many australians who have no connection to them at all. The fact that the majority play overseas, adds to this lack of connection. Certain mannerisms of the socceroos and football in general also contribute, hands on hearts during the national anthen, over-the-top post-goal celebration, diving, all contribute to making the socceroos a national team, not the national team. Football is a huge part of many peoples culture, but it is in no way part of mine.
Art Sapphire
Guest
JF - I am sorry to hear that you can't relate to the Socceroo team. For me its quite the opposite. When I was growing up the Socceroos team was the team I identified with the most. Most of the players were the sons of migrants from England, Scotland and Europe. Just like them, my parents migrated from Europe. I related to their experiences and they made me proud when they represented Australia. This is why the national football team has become the team that repesents Australia best because we are a multiculural immigrant nation. The Wallabies do not represent this. That is why you don't see thousands upon thousands of Australians jamming public spaces in the middle of the night to watch the Wallabies play in the World Cup.
Pippinu
Roar Guru
Take this classic quote from the site: (Probably) A biased analysis of AFL (Aussie Rules) The AFL seems to be in some sort of confusion with a pinch of panic thrown in on top of unhealthy amounts of arrogance. The game has been deeply damaged via the weakness of the AFL’s 3 strikes drug policy and general weakness in dealing with a large minority of idiots in the game. The drug policy has been continually heralded by the AFL as the best in the land. Indeed, there was much media support for this view. However it is a policy which has allowed at least one of its players to become an addict under it’s (not so) watchful eye. Promises, excuses and more promises and excuses have been offered throughout 2007 in regards to this drug policy and the AFL handling of out of control footballers. The Age Newspaper calling the AFL “The code of silence” as a result of it being more concerned about silencing the media than tackling its drug problem. After embarrassing episode after embarrassing episode, the AFL finally pulled up its errant player and gave him a one year suspension from the AFL. Wendell Sailor must have been rolling around with laughter after having been suspended for 2 years over his brush with cocaine. It doesn’t stop there; whilst sportsmen in the other codes receive blanket suspensions over all competitions (League and Union honour one another’s suspensions), Cousins is able to play wherever he likes outside of the AFL. The media must have learnt their lesson and reported this as a tough stance by the AFL. With plenty of money to throw about, the AFL are hell bent on having a side on the Gold Coast by 2010. If rumours of them doing the dirty on The Kangaroos turn out to be true, this will create another huge backlash against a leadership people are describing as dictatorial. Demetriou, like a true tyrant lashes out with bigger boasts (such as having another team in Western Sydney shortly as well as the 17th team on The Gold Coast), as a way of dealing with his agitation on not getting his way with the drug policy or the Kangaroos.
Pippinu
Roar Guru
MyGen it was a good read, and it starts of as if it's providing objective analysis - but by the end of it, it so clearly is a Sydneysider's view of the world, and ends up back-tracking on much of what has been discussed in the earlier pages.
MyGeneration
Roar Guru
Pippinu, I don't think that's a fair criticism. They show various breakdowns of viewing figures, some showing AFL ahead, some showing League ahead (i.e. when regionals are included for Grand Finals). Association Football and Union also have their moments at World Cup time. You can't have it all, Pip!
Pippinu
Roar Guru
Sheek I certainly agree there. One thing that rang true was where they talked about the group dynamics, how invariably, over time, there's movement towards one code. Now that's observable in the SW/NE split, but until now, it hasn't been observable nationwide (although that might start happening). Related to that was the discussion about people generally ony willing to put their financial resources and emotional investment into one team - it's very rare for people to want to do that for more than one team (i.e. from two codes). Now I can recall when True Tah asked me whether I'd become a member of a new Vic rugby team associatied with the Victory. I said probably not - for no other reason than I currently have two memberships, and it's stacks - I just can't imagine a third - and it's pretty much the reasons they were saying.
retired rucker
Guest
WCR, Well I'll look forward to having a beer at one of the force gatherings they organise onTWF site, should be much better at ME although getting there won't be as easy!
Glen
Guest
Poor examples. They were only born there and with the exception of Weary, none of them learned their rugby in Vic. There just wasn't a competition. It's akin to saying that Papua New Guinea is responsible for the success of AFL's Mal Michael by virtue of him being born there. Sorry, but that's a fail for me!
Working Class Rugger
Guest
Mexican. And actually both. Originally from Sydney so obviously the Tahs. And the Force whenever they aren't playing the Tahs. And I tend to have the same deal of passion for both. Maybe the Tahs slightly more but only slightly. Basically you can hear feverish yelling and cheering from my house at least twice a week during the S14. I don't get out fishing much. Tend to work pretty much 6 1/2 days a week. Come Feburary next I'll be a Mexican living in Perth.
sheek
Guest
If you read a lot of other stuff on the site, it's their intention to insult as best as possible. However, interestingly, despite 'taking the piss' there is also some excellent truth amidst the mirth. They aren't right on everything they say, but it's thought provoking, I reckon.
retired rucker
Guest
WCR, are you a WA pilbarian or a mexican pilbarian. Are you a force or warratah supporter? Just curious. Used to take the family dingy , in 80's, up flying foam passage out to legendre Isl and spear fish as a teenager, top spot the archepelago. Never played league up there as I was worried about union eligibility. Cheers,