A lot is being said, debated and threatened at the moment about the new format of the Super Rugby competition after the 2015 season.
At times the talk and posturing has become silly with talk of two conferences, Argentinian, Japanese and American/Canadian participation, South Africa joining the Northern Hemisphere etc.
However I have just had an enlightened moment and all of a sudden the solution appears so obvious to me. Why hasn’t anybody else seen it?
It boils down to having more, but less!
One of the biggest problems for Super Rugby is that the three partners have different agendas and priorities. The biggest challenge is to satisfy their individual requirements while at the same time not compromising the other two.
South Africa is under enormous “political” pressure to expand their number of teams to six, to the point that they would be prepared to walk away from the competition if it doesn’t happen (or so they say).
Australia are in dire need to expand their base and present a palatable product to their public who are spoilt for choice with a number of competing codes.
I don’t care what anybody else says, an international competition with integrity will always be attractive as long as the product stacks up.
New Zealand seem to be the easiest to please, as they are where they want to be at present. As long as the new format doesn’t compromise their revenue streams or put enormous stress on their player welfare they will go along.
So here is my solution.
Firstly, forget everybody else. At this stage Argentina and Japan should look more to setting up/joining competitions in the Americas and Asia.
If that’s not possible then it is too bad, as there’s no point in destroying a good competition by trying to accommodate everybody else.
Create two tiers, a first and second division with teams nine teams in each, three from each country in each division.
Instigate a promotion/relegation system in each country, where each country’s bottom first division team swaps with the top second division team or has a playoff to decide who takes the spot at the end of the round robin.
A playoff of the four top teams in the first division will decide the championship, and there could also be a second tier playoff in the second division (although I wouldn’t bother).
This way each country has six teams and maintains the status quo. Australia might struggle initially but with some wise importing and developmeny of local talent I think they will cope.
At a pinch they could have a foreign team (Argentinian?) based in Australia, although this is not the ideal solution.
Teams in each division could play each other twice, but I would prefer to have them play each other once. The big plus is that this shortens the season considerably and allows more time and strengthening of local comps such as the Currie Cup, ITM and the Waltzing Matilda Championship (or whatever the ARU decides to call it).
It will also help South African teams overcome the travel factor. With less games and clever scheduling they can probably have a two week window before they embark on their overseas sojourn.
As it is not possible to tow the good ship Australia and New Zealand closer to South Africa this is probably the best solution.
What is also significant is that the quality of the two divisions should be reasonably close, and if funded correctly both divisions should be able to keep their top players and not lose them to first division sides, especially if the remuneration is similar or the same.
It would also keep teams on their toes to the end of the competition with the thread/reward of relegation/promotion, as well as the first division playoffs, thus maintaining public interest with few dead rubber games.
Finally I should scrap the guarantee of at least one team from each country in the playoffs to make them earn the right. With a four team playoff we are guaranteed at least two countries will participate and I think it would be a rare occurrence where all three countries were not represented.
Finally, for the sake of argument, if I was a Highlanders supporter and in the second division, I would enjoy watching my team play the Lions or the Rebels as much as an Aucklander watching the Blues play the Sharks.
And there you have it, sometimes I scare myself with my brilliance! Now I am steeling myself to be shot down in flames.
Feel free to pass this to SANZAR, ARU and NZRFU, just remember it is my idea and my last chance at a comfortable retirement!
Two Eyed Cyclop
Roar Guru
All I'd say to them is "SHOW ME THE MONEY". Then I can tell my bosses how fond I am of them and ride into the sunshine. Only problem is that I would probably not write any more articles, just make silly comments. :-)
Tane Mahuta
Guest
Remember its the QANTAS Wallabies so I wouldnt be so quick to judge sponsorship.
Tane Mahuta
Guest
Really? So a stadium packed full of Japanese and the Honshu Samurai with JOC, Tanaka, SBW, Fourie and du Preez vs the Crusaders played at prime time doesnt inspire as much as the Kings vs the Force played at 3am. I disagree and eventually most would. Im sure a few years back you were really wanting to see a Perth based team vs a Port Elizabeth based team at 3am in the morning and found the idea very inspiring.
Old Bugger
Guest
TEC Not bad and food for thought. But I have to agree you'll no doubt fine tune this to come up with something more palatable for everyone. Just concerned that less action might equate to less $$$ with the broadcaster hence you may need to look at same time duration as currently, but incorporating your local round robin & tier analogies - maybe 3 tier playoffs?? Nek minit...blah, what do I know??
AndyS
Guest
Why do yiou say "and SARU"? The whole point of the new NH competition is to get away from a competition where the Unions manage the show. Why would SARU be at all welcome, or get any money at all for that development stuff that the privately owned clubs see as such a waste of the money they could have had...?
Bruticus
Roar Pro
What exactly are you trying to do mate? The sheer reasonableness of your proposal will throw SANZAR into utter chaos! Worlds will collide! Oceans will drain! Donuts will find their missing middles! I hope you're happy.
mace 22
Guest
Have to see a patent lawer to see if the NZRU hasn't patented this idea, as it sounds very similar to the ITM cup.
Bruticus
Roar Pro
It'll never happen. The main reason driving this talk of South Africa going north is the 6th team and that will not be enough to abandon Super Rugby. Why abandon a superior competition for a lesser one with no discernible return on risk? SA will only want to play in the Heineken Cup (or whatever new thing they come up with) and the Eng/Fra clubs are determined to run that show. SA be a minor player? I think not. Even if they do want to, I seriously doubt SARFU will subject themselves to European labour laws. It'll never happen.
sixo_clock
Roar Guru
The 'problems' alluded to are one-of posturing by some franchise bean counters. The freedom to play with Fox money all depends on whether the solution provides the all-important content Rupert wants. That they all travel long distances is fair(ish - not that we would like to do it ourselves). The quality of Super/SANZAR Rugby is good. All test players are having a run. Coaches are being developed along with match officials, facilities. In other words there is very little to fix and the egos of a few, including politicians with an affirmative action agendas, are not going to feature large in the eventual outcome. Is this idea gonna fly? I hope not because those relegated will lose fans, players, revenue, exposure etc. The franchises are businesses that will not brook any tampering with their income and no over-riding body will force it upon them. There are many other ways - eg: All teams of one country charter a single(?) flight to another and play two or three weekends whilst based in a suitable resort. The buzz from the 'invasion' will provide great marketing opportunities. At the same time it will save money, put every invader on an equal basis with jet lag and has potential to be a bloody big party reminiscent of the old days of touring.
Hermann Dill
Guest
Anyone who could make a good guess how much money the SA super rugby clubs (and SARU) would make if they played in a European competition? My gut feeling says it would be A LOT more than staying with OZ and NZ. If SA goes north, the argument that the strongest club competition is up north would be very strong.
Johnno
Guest
I;m not sure Two Eyed Cyclop Kings/Lions VS Highlanders inspire. What is it 20,000 miles away to inspire.
JB
Guest
Argentina cannot be left out. They are part of the Rugby Championship and they need to be integrated one way o the other in the Super Rugby competition. Expanding to other countries, I am not sure at this stage as it is just cramming the calendar with a lot of travel for not much results. Maybe the solution would be to create that second tier competition with teams from Canada, USA, Japan... Fail to understand why SA Rugby pundits keep on delusioning themselves with joining a European competition. IT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN! The latest development around the European club competition is that discussions are now progressing around a 20 clubs model. Still to be resolved are the TV rights. Never metnioned or even discussed was the presence of SA teams in the EUROPEAN cup (not the Euro-African club championship). Now I would really like to know how popular rugby is in SA outside the white population as we keep on being lectured about the financial power of SA rugby and that it can easily survived in total isolation...
DubaiKiwi
Guest
Why is their not consideration for the natural progression of playing level. Redo the whole season, start with currie/ITM cup played in each country, Australia should start their domestic season too. The top four teams of those tournaments go to play a round robin super club tournament , then on to the four nations followed by full internationals. Although if was a true level up flow we would do the internationals and finish with the four nations.
Rugby is life
Guest
One problem. No one is focuses do n what Fox wants. At the end of the day they really make the call.
Matt
Guest
Not sure of that. You might have found a way for the waratahs to win a match!!
Two Eyed Cyclop
Roar Guru
I am sure all three partners read my articles the moment they appear :-) . But seriously, somebody above has posted that it has been considered and rejected, not sure if that is the case.
B-Rock
Roar Guru
You might find that all test players gravitate to the div 1 teams as they will struggle to be noticed in div 2 given a lower level of competition. Funding is only part of the issue - we will end up with a situation of haves and have nots (even more than it is currently)
Colin McCann
Guest
The thought had never crossed my mind. Good contribution here. Some problems would have to be hammered out though At first I was worried there may not be enough local games to get fans interested. Each team would only face the other two teams from their country in that division once each. That said, it might make for an occasion when they do. Less may well be more. I'd still have playoffs to determine each country's promotion/relegation in some form (maybe for the highest of the three facing relegation) to maximize the amount of local derbies on display. Besides, as you say this would leave more time for the local comps which IMO need to take greater prominence. But at some point Argentina would have to enter if SANZAR takes Argentina's inclusion in the RC seriously. Increase nine to twelve for each and I think you've still got a manageable format within your scope. Especially if you stack Arg-SA games and Aus-NZ games. But conjecture aside, I really do think you should inform SANZAR about your idea. It might go in one ear and out the other but it won't hurt to try
Two Eyed Cyclop
Roar Guru
:-( Blast, didn't know that. Have to keep working I guess.
tc
Guest
Sorry cyclops SANZAR (Tew I think) has already said that they have looked at a two tier system for Super Rugby but couldn't make the second tier pay for itself.