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I start by acknowledging my rugby knowledge pertaining the day to day operations of the game is limited. This article is aimed at both trying to gain an understanding of this and the sharing of knowledge.
The Tri-Nations and Super Rugby competitions are run by SANZAR.
SANZAR is made up of three unions South Africa, New Zealand and Australia.
SANZAR negotiate a media deal for the broadcast of both competitions.
The various unions after negotiation receive different percentages of media deal based on internal negotiations.
What is the working relationship between the three unions South Africa/New Zealand/Australia unions and SANZAR?
Do the national unions meet to decide on policy and instruct SANZAR what media deal to do?
Does the SANZAR management team get a media deal and tell the unions what they have to do?
Will the addition of a fourth union further erode the influence of each of the unions?
My guess is SANZAR is some kind of management team that reports to the three unions.
However how powerful is SANZAR? Is its main purpose to gain the maximum broadcast deal? Or is its mandate to advance rugby and get a reasonable broadcast deal?
There is some real difficulty in the unions each have different issues. Australia’s issues I would argue are primarily centred on junior development, player numbers, general acceptance and growth in a highly competitive sports market place.
Develop the base to build foundations to support the national team and Super teams.
If you consider junior development and pathways as critical moving forward, how to achieve these goals within limited resources is open for debate. What is often argued is for a free-to-air segment in the new media deal and more funds for junior development.
If the above is correct the next questions is can these needs be met if both South Africa and New Zealand don’t see these as issues.
Consider also what role SANZAR sees for itself? It is said the first people a bureaucracy will save is itself.
How much of a bureaucracy is SANZAR and does the management team that is SANZAR see looking after itself as a first priority?
To explain can you imagine SANZAR voting to disband itself and each union negotiating for themselves.
I have no idea what the answer is, but who is in control of Australian rugby, the ARU or SANZAR via the broadcast deal? And who tells the ARU what to do?
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.