What does English Football and the Hong Kong Sevens have in common? Well, probably not much, but they both attract a huge amount of interest worldwide from devotees of those two codes because they deliver the highest levels of competition.
The FA has a multi-tiered competition with promotion to, and relegation from, the Premier League based on performance on the pitch.
The Rugby Sevens competition has a pool stage followed by a division into two tiers – the “Cup Championship” and the “Bowl Championship”.
Two different approaches that deliver the same results; competitive matches between teams that all have something to play for, be it Cup, Bowl, Vase or Spoon.
Compare this to some of what we see year after year in Super Rugby.
Week 5 saw the Lions downed by 61 points. In weeks 9 and 10, the Cheetahs were whipped by 46 and 39 points on the trot.
Is this really the “Best Provincial Rugby Competition in the World”?
Your heart has to go out to the Lions and Cheetahs fans.
Their loyalty helps fund their team’s long overseas trips that deliver nought but pain, year after year. The Highlanders, Western Force and until this season the Reds faired little better. Their loyal fans must ask themselves why they bother to sign-up for this each season.
Even the powerhouse teams like the Bulls struggle on long overseas tours and contribute the long distance travel to substandard performances.
No wonder the TV cameras show largely empty stadiums each week, for all but a few games where there is a key match-up or a long standing rivalry.
With the introduction of the 15th franchise, there is surely an opportunity to review how the competition is run.
I wonder how many fans would prefer to see a National home and away competition at the beginning of each season.
With each of the three SANZAR countries now boasting 5 Franchises the numbers are finally even. Each nation would form a separate pool for the first 8 rounds, providing the fans with the “local derby” matches that are the passion behind provincial football. Then each pool could be divided into two competitions.
The top three teams from each nation going into a “Super 9 Cup” and the bottom two teams playing for a “Super 6 Plate”.
To my mind, this would format would increase spectator interest for all teams, but particularly for the long suffering fans of the bottom three or four teams who are on a hiding to nothing week after week.
It would also reduce the number of “meaningless games” at the end of the season.
I mean, who really cares about the Sharks Vs Force in Week 14, at this stage? But if they were playing for a Plate Final at their home ground, then they would have something to motivate them and give back their loyal fans.
Come on SANZAR.
How about doing something for the loyal fan base for a change and give us more of the Rugby we want to see. Who knows, you might start to fill up those empty stadiums.
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.
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