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I’m one who believes that New Zealand can, and should, help Australian rugby get back to its feet. They’ve done so twice before, I believe.
I know the Fiji tour in the 1950s when the Wallabies shared their two-Test series brought crowds back to the game because of the open running play of the Fijians.
Such a proposal would either replace Super Rugby or to run concurrently as a glorified development competiton berefit of Test stars but still producing damn fine footy.
A Tasman Provincial Competition (TPC) incorporates the ITM Cup infrastructure involving 14 provinces split into two divisions: North Harbour/Counties, Auckland, Hawkes Bay, Wellington, Taranaki, Waikato, Otago, Southland, Canterbury and Tasman to be joined by New South Wales, Queensland, ACT and Melbourne.
That’s 16 teams divided into Championship and Premiership divisions, involving a promotion/relegation round for New Zealand teams and a separate round for the Aussie teams.
ACT and Melbourne can join the lower division while New South Wales and Queensland join the big boys although the prospect of promotion (the top Australian team in the Premiership replacing the bottom Aussie team in the Championship) will act as an incentive.
Games to be played home and away but Aussie teams can not contest the Ranfurly Shield (perhaps they can devise their own challenge trophy series or play other New Zealand provinces).
Venues in Australia have to be chosen with care: start with suburban grounds such as St Marys Stadium or regional ones at Gosford instead of bigger grounds like Parramatta Stadium until demand prompts an upgrade.
The Aussies can field their regular provincial teams (minus Super/Test stars) or ‘B’ sides.
A player draft can target club competitions in New South Wales, Queensland, Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide, Hobart, Perth and Darwin (if the All Blacks can get a halfback out of Darwin, why not the ARU?) and you can blood rugby league recruits like Israel Folau.
Marquee international players will be allowed for the weaker teams, both from New Zealand and Australia.
There will be some commercial realities, however.
First is that these teams’ jurisdiction has to be ceded to the New Zealand Rugby Union, much like the Breakers, Phoenix and Warriors have ceded theirs to the Australian competitions’ governing bodies.
Secondly, the Aussie teams will need to prove they are financially self-sustaining with their own sponsorship which doesn’t compromise the competition’s major sponsors – do they sign up with Jetstar given Air New Zealand is the major domestic carrier in New Zealand or can they make separate deals for domestic and international travel?.
Thirdly, salary cap. It exists. The cap can be raised if there is sufficient injection of funds otherwise we’re back at point two.
A major benefit for Australian rugby fans would be the creation of a provincial competition whose telecast rights could be negotiated to include a free-to-air component.
Given the number of Kiwis migrating to Australia, that could end up generating decent ratings (anecdotal evidence I accumulated suggests this could happen provided the right style of rugby is played).
Each week, the host Aussie union can show their team’s game live, or close to it, plus a highlights package or a delayed game broadcast midweek.
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.