Although I support both the Super Rugby and the ITM and Currie Cup competitions, they’re not viable for the future of rugby union in the southern hemisphere. Rugby has lost ground in key heartland areas such as New Zealand, where fans are turning away from the game in worrying numbers.
My solution (taking into account past ideas from fellow Roarers) to this problem is outlined below, and allows for the incorporation of the emerging nations of Japan and Argentina, as well as heartlands such as the Pacific Islands. I have outlined the competition format first using New Zealand as an example.
New Zealand Championship (ITM Cup)
The new ITM cup would be played in two rounds. The first round would be played over nine weeks beginning mid to late February, with a bye for each team.
North Auckland (Northland and North Harbour combined)
Auckland
Waikato Counties
Taranaki Manawatu
Eastern (Hawkes Bay – Bay of Plenty)
Wellington
Canterbury (Canterbury and Tasman)
Otago
Southland
After the first round of the ITM cup, a Heineken Cup-style competition would be played (referred to as the Steinlager Cup here as an example). This would encompass teams from New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, and Japan/Argentina with possibly a team from each of the islands.
All teams would be placed in four pools of eight, totalling 32 teams (9 each from New Zealand and South Africa, eight from Australia, and either six from Japan/Argentina, or three from Japan/Argentina along with Samoan, Tongan, and Fijian XVs).
Pools would be selected based on position finished in the first round of the domestic competitions, so to distribute both stronger and weaker teams in each pool (non-SANZAR teams fitted in manually using best judgement).
These pool stages will commence immediately after the end of the first round of the SANZAR domestic competitions. The cup final series (quarters, semis and final) would be played in a knock-out style competition straight after the pool stages, making the tournament 10 weeks long.
Following on from the Steinlager Cup, the All Blacks will be named (same timing as at present). The Test season will then begin the same time as the second round of the ITM cup. This will enable a more even ITM cup competition and ensure a team does not hoard All Blacks, as teams will have to ensure they have enough depth to compete when the All Blacks go into camp.
If the format was followed this year, the dates for the respective competitions would be as follows:
February 19th – Kick-off on ITM Cup round 1
April 16th – End of ITM Cup round 1
April 23rd – Beginning of Steinlager Cup
June 25th – Steinlager Cup final
July second – Kick-off on ITM cup round 2
27th August – End of Round two ITM Cup
11th September – ITM Cup Final
This format would ensure that all teams will have at least 11 home games per season (8 ITM cup games and minimum 3 Steinlager Cup pool games), even if they do not progress to any finals. For the more successful teams, they may be able to host up to 18 home games (10 ITM Cup games, five Steinlager Cup pool games, three Steinlager Cup finals games).
If there is demand, a second finals series (e.g. the Steinlager Plate) could be played at the same time as the Steinlager Cup, by the teams finishing 3rd and 4th in their respective pools.
To keep merged provinces involved and interested, the games would be split between the two on a population or rugby history basis (e.g. Waikato Counties would play four or five games at Pukekohe, six or seven games at Hamilton.
The teams would also using both playing strips – For example Waikato Counties would play in Waikato colours at home games, and use Counties colours for their away strip.
Another possible idea to keep identity is to have the 14 current provinces keep under-20 teams, which play a national competition as curtain raisers to the second round of the ITM Cup.
I know the merging provinces would not be over the moon, but I am sure with the right negotiations (like those suggested above) it can be succesfully done. I am from Counties, so I fully understand the implications and risks of merging provinces and potentially alienating fans.
However, I think in this case, something needs to be done, or else we may see the continued devaluation of the current ITM cup and Super Rugby competitions.
This format would also bring back the tribalism in New Zealand Rugby, and not force people to support two teams, or support regions they traditionally hate (e.g. Southland – Otago). This will no doubt increase crowd numbers and interest.
Three Australian Super Rugby franchises would be kept, so as to not undo the good work already done in those areas.
Western Force
Melbourne Rebels
ACT Brumbies
South Brisbane (To include Gold Coast, Ipswich, Redlands)
North Brisbane (to include Sunshine Coast, also play two games in Townsville/Mackay etc)
Western Sydney
Northern Sydney-Central Coast
Southern/Eastern Sydney
This would follow the same deal as above with the ITM cup, and would give Australia a much needed viable domestic competition, and many more quality games to sell to broadcasters.
To not lose out on Australia’s biggest rivalry, a one, two or three game Queensland Reds versus New South Wales Waratahs match could also be played each year, to keep the identity going.
This could follow the same concept as league’s state of origin, or something like where your last year of high school was. The key will be to market it without avoiding people comparing it to league’s version.
South Africa would have nine teams playing for the already successful Currie Cup (eight existing, plus one from first division).
This would in effect keep the ITM and Currie cups, as well as giving teams international exposure, without sacrificing on or the other. High profile international games would happen in the final stages of the Steinlager Cup.
It would dramatically increase the amount of relevant games shown during prime time. Most weeks Australian viewers could see four games locally, plus four New Zealand games all close to prime time.
Involving the Island teams in the Steinlager Cup would be great for Pacific Islands rugby. The cup could be scheduled to play between the off season in Europe to make sure those teams are strong. It would also significantly reduce travel.
The potential downsides are that quality may be below that of Super Rugby, though this does not necessarily mean that the rugby is less exciting. The current ITM Cup has 14 teams, and there are some spectacular games of rugby played in that competition.
The rugby will still be of a high quality, and may entice more people to stay here rather than chase the riches in Europe.
In New Zealand the amount of professional teams will be reduced effectively from 19 to 8, so they may be able to actually increase wages for the stars. All Blacks, Wallabies, and Springboks will still be able to get the same amount through their international contracts. The only question lies with the viability or the smaller merged unions.
Australia would obviously be the biggest challenge in terms of depth, but they need to do something sooner rather than later. I would say the increase in revenue from broadcasters would be able to provide money to entice back ex-union players currently playing in the Toyota Cup and the NRL, and maybe some from overseas.
It would also solve some of the problems currently experienced in Sydney, where rugby followers refuse to support the Waratahs.
Let me know what you think, Roarers.
Kevin Higginson
Guest
Super Rugby needs to move away from provincial teams and have franchises. Have 5 NZ franchises, 5 Aus, 6 SA, 1 PI, 1 Japan, 2 US, 2 Can and 2 Arg. Each franchise is to be privately financed with a salary cap. A squad would be minimum of 32 players, with a maximum of 20 non-nationals in any squad, 16 of the squad must be national based. The match squad of 22 could have a maximum of 8 non-national players. 4 groups of 6 in 2 conferences (Tasman and RoW), play home and away in group, home or away in conference and 4 inter-conference matches (2 home and 2 away) The play-offs would be the group winners plus the next 4 best records in each conference. They would be played like the NFL play-offs culminating in the 'Super Bowl' at a neutral venue. One player in each team would have 'icon' status and be protected in the auction so they played for their local team. The players signing interest would be auctioned off to teams, as long as they kept under the salary cap.
Red Chief
Roar Pro
Emric, To be honest i dont think a super rugby B grade would be viable... I think the best we can realisticly do is involve them in a short competition, such as a 7-10 week competition, which would give players and fans living in the Islands exposure to a high grade international comp. To involve them in anything longer would need substancial financial commitment just for players wages, which only the IRB would be capable of paying (which they never would, and rightly so).
Emric
Guest
Once again Red I agree ... We need to take more games to the islands themselves, we are always pushing the money. The NZRU only made a loss the last 2 years because its forked out 67 million dollars to host the RWC, and it's books are still in the black - it's expecting to get back into the the positves by the end of 2012 - if the NZRU can make a massive profit from rugby then it can certainly take a step towards bringing the island nations towards if not into super rugby Red I imagined from what you wrote that the island nations would form a Super Rubby B-Grade competition which would be just as competitive and paid for by funds from the IRB/SANZAR deal to keep the best players playing our game is this what you were thinking?
Red Chief
Roar Pro
Robert, No one is suggesting that they should be in the tri nations. I am suggesting they play in a 10 week tornament against teams which would be between super rugby and itm cup teams in quality. And even though Apia park only holds 8000 people, i bet it would be packed to the rafters for every game, imagine auckland playing a samoan Xv in Apia!!! It would give the islands a huge boost. This would also give the tornament a huge feel good factor. Also, i bet 8000 people in Apia park is alot more profitable than running Waikato Stadium for 7 thousand people, because that is what thier crowds averaged this year.
robert
Guest
the islands will never be involved in super-rugby or tri-nations..they're too small with little market value..samoa has just 180,000 with apia park never going beyongd 8000 for the really big rugby tests.. what i'd like to see is more super rugby franchises recruiting from the islands..samoa has more quality rugby players than that wallabies b-team or whatever rubbish they come up with.. in saying that, alesana tuilagi is heads and shoulders above any of the sanza super rugby wingers this season..
Red Chief
Roar Pro
The weather doesnt help, but id say this would only influence a max of around 4-5000 people. That semi final in Auckland wasnt selling any tickets all week, its not like they would of got a walk up crowd of 35000 if it were sunny...
Emric
Guest
Ian Who is Mike Pyke? Who is the Swans? What would he get paid playing for Waikato depending on his level between 50 to 60 000 higher if he was a super-12 or international. Ian I think you've missed the point the IRB is not a New Zealand run institution it stands for the International Rugby Board basically its the group who manages rugby world wide none of the money SANZAR makes gets spent in the Islands because the IRB looks after that region. The IRB made about 120 million pound in the last world cup and stands to equal if not better the preformance this time of that 100 million pound will be spent on the second tier rugby nations financing their top teams, helping build stadiums and paying for rugby competitions. And this is completely outside what the SANZAR does ontop for the region. Anyway the goal of this discussion and the point that Red Chief was trying to make, of which I agree, is that Samoans, Tongans and Fijians should not have to leave their homes to go to Europe, Austarlia, South Africa, New Zealand, or Japan to be professional Rugby players they should be able to be part of SANZAR and involved in Super Rugby within their own sturctures.
Red Chief
Roar Pro
Kovana, Id be interested in what you think about my idea on getting the Island teams involved. Do you see this as the best way to include them?
kovana
Guest
"Its all about feeling like you are represented by the team, Super Rugby companys do not achieve this." Spot on... How can you include Auckland and North Harbour in one team and then call em the Blues??? Thats what auckland were called back in the day.. Same with the Chiefs... Crusaders etc... The other Provinces feel alienated due to make up 'regions' and their region team names not included.
Damien
Guest
I see. You're right about SR and fan representation disconnect though..
Red Chief
Roar Pro
It wouldnt be starting all over again though, as I do believe that may be to much to ask. Using myself as an example, i would rather see a team called Waikato Counties (both names in the title is a must, and no "steeler's" or anything added), come up to pukekohe for or five times a year, and play in counties colours against a heavy weight like Canterbury or Auckland, then watch players play for one "region" in super rugby then move to the other end of the country to play in the ITM cup. Again, i believe a merger can be successful IF: They have both names in the title; Wear both team colours as either a home and away strip, or wear whatever the hosts provinces colours are, i.e. counties strip in Pukekohe, and Waikato strip in hamilton. Below premier grade the unions would still have thier age group teams, and possibly even keep a B team which would play curtain raisers to the ITM cup games in the second round. Its all about feeling like you are represented by the team, Super Rugby companys do not achieve this.
Damien
Guest
Very True. I suppose the question is can NZ convince these provinces to start all over again with a merger. The NRL mergers were pretty dramatic for the die hards. Change has gotta start somewhere I suppose.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Emric, Mike Pyke is earning about NZ$120k playing for the Swans. What would he be paid playing for Waikato ?
Damien
Guest
LOL. Just been dealt with. Red Chief has really put some serious detail & thinking in his plan. Mine's kind of on the simple side. Just my 2 cents if the world was perfect. "Castles in the Air" sort of stuff. Was written without knowing much if any rugby admin history. Just abit of a 'wouldn't it be nice' kind of article.
Red Chief
Roar Pro
I think its great that the IRB is commiting money to the islands, the high performance centre they built in Samoa should also be done in both Fiji and Tonga. Id say the only way the SANZAR unions could involve the islands is in a short, 10 week knockout comp like ive suggested, if they had to fly all over the place for 18 or so weeks like super rugby dictates it would cripple the finances even further.
Emric
Guest
Red There's little chance of either League or AFL over-taking rugby in the heartlands because the IRB spends millions of dollars on rugby in the region so its not really the issue. The key is getting more of those players into super rugby and allowing their teams to be involved and in this respect I completely agree with you.
Red Chief
Roar Pro
Cheers Damien. If only the SANZAR unions were involved, it would be a step forward from where we are now, but it would still exclude the Islands and the potential gold mine that are the Japanese corperate owned teams. Using the Japanese to subsidise pacific islands rugby, and in turn get them both involved in playing rugby with the best 3 teams in the world (unless one of those is now Samoa!) can only be good for the game. Rugby in our region needs to wake up to the fact that the NRL and AFL are already making serious in roads to these heatlands. It would be a massive shame to see the sport die out in the pacific and be replaced by something like League. If we were to use my idea as the format for change, i dont think that South Africa or Australia would even have a case for an argument against it. The South Africans could keep the current currie cup format (with an extra round full of Springboks), and still have the first dividon currie cup where the winner gets to play in the international "steinlager" cup. It would be great for australia - the only worry would be the depth required to fill 8 teams. New Zealand will have a hard time convincing the likes of Taranaki or Bay of Plemty to merge senior teams, but i think with the suggestions ive made, plus some that i may not have thought of, it could be done and would be embraced mainly because it would be the end of 5 companys running NZ rugby into the ground.
Republican
Guest
Weather? The the weather is always lousy in NZ.
Red Chief
Roar Pro
Ata, Ok then, you may be passionate, but you are certainly out of touch with the values of naming rights. There is no need to ring any CEO's or anyone, as after doing a brief google search (something you probably should have done before you posted), on other naming rights deals, i actually found that the rights would be comfortably in the millions. Earlier this year, Castle lager signed a deal worth US$3 million a season just to have naming rights to tri nations tests in the country and sponsor home tests and tours. This US$3 million is not for naming rights to the WHOLE tornament, it is just so in South Africa they can put Castle Larger in front of it during the games. In NZ, the sponsor is Investec, and i would be surprised if that deal isnt a million dollar figure. Then you also have an australian sponsor, and so forth. The Celtic league (the what???? - exactly) is sponsored this year by Rabodirect, in a deal worth US$1million per season, just for naming rights. The format i have suggested would directly reach people in 7 or 8 countrys, not to mention the rest of the world who dont like watching the boring rugby dished up by the home unions. And your right, just wishing for something isnt enough to make it happen, but it sure goes a hell of a way further than your negative sarcastic replys to anyone trying to make it better.
zhenry
Guest
Have you got concrete skin; the merits of Super rugby lie almost entirely with AU. With the help of the NZRU the whole system is custom made for AU, that is O'Neill's big coup, he goes home at night and thanks his lucky stars that his NZ counterparts are so naive and silly.