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The debate regarding the structure of Super Rugby has been ongoing since the inception of the competition and has only intensified since its expansion from the original set up.
The simple fact that this talk does not and will not go away just highlights the dilemma facing SANZAR.
No one denies that Super Rugby for 20 years now has provided a level of professionalism that has transitioned the code from its amateur days, but put simply the sheer complexity of the beast has made it far too often a hard sell.
SANZAR have to be careful. Expansion may bring extra revenue but it has not always increased the value of the competition, and without addressing the fundamental flaws of the structure the one-size-fits.all sledgehammer approach to expansion may ultimately slowly implode.
Below is a structure moving forward that addresses many of the current issues and would appeal not only to broadcasters and fans, but also to a new fan-base. I have based this structure on the 2018 calendar.
Super rugby becomes four competitions
A total of 24 weeks from Feb 24 to August 4.
Three domestic-based conferences (New Zealand, South Africa and Australia) which have six teams each that play two rounds of home-and-away fixtures, a total of ten matches. This competition is to conclude before the June internationals.
The fourth competition, named the Southern Super League, involves 22 teams and includes all 18 teams from the above conferences plus four expansion teams. Two expansion teams would come from Argentina, while one each would come from Japan and the Pacific.
The Southern Super League sees a 12-rounds competition finalising with a finals series, starting with quarter-finals. The grand final would be on Saturday. August 4, before the Rugby Championship.
The expansion teams are only included in the Southern Super League and play 12 games against all opponents. So their season starts later, approximately Saturday, March 24.
Each team from New Zealand, South Africa and Australia would have played teams from their own conference twice and then a further seven games against teams from outside their domestic conference.
One round (five games) of the domestic leagues will be included for points in the Southern Super League, those games would be designated before the start of each season.
So in total there would be a 24-week calendar (excluding the finals).
New Zealand, Australian and South African teams will play a total of 17 games from February 24 until July 14.
Expansion teams play a total of 12 games from late March until July 14. This also includes one bye for each team, and a three-week break for the June internationals.
Why this could be a better format
You are essentially presenting four competitions running alongside each other, with a minimum of 11 games a week, to a broadcaster. Remember, 50 per cent of your domestic league is part of the Southern Super League, ensuring a level of outside interest. An increase of nearly 30 per cent more content.
Expansion teams play less games, as they don’t have the depth of existing rugby teams or countries. We need to learn from expansion into territories that rugby is not the dominant code.
Situations not dissimilar to the Force and Rebels, this is to prevent these teams over time from becoming essentially weekly cannon fodder with interest declining slowly through excessive travel and competition demands. Their inclusion must be more attractive and less complicated when presented to new markets.
The whole purpose of this is to ensure the best possible format to grow the game and accommodate as fair as possible each country’s requirements. It will only work if time is taken to ensure that the best possible schedule is planned that maximises rivalries, minimises travel and maintains interest for longer periods for all the teams and countries involved.
This provides the ability to schedule games that are more viewer friendly and attractive to individual markets. For example, the Pacific team, Fiji, will have a 12-game schedule. They would maybe two to three home games, however games would be scheduled in Western Sydney and South Auckland to maximise interest and revenue.
Two Argentinean teams would both play 12 games each, however you would schedule two games against each other to create derbies. You could also schedule at least one home game each week to maximise presence in the local market.
Japan’s 12 games would be essentially home and away, but could be scheduled to minimise travel and maximise interest. For instance, they may travel for two away games and then play two home games.
You have the ability with this model to satisfy specific country demands (for example, New Zealand and South Africa’s desire to play each other).
Not every team plays each other in the Southern Super League, this is a drawback. However, this is not happening now anyway, and with the expansion from say Super 12 this was not and is not possible into the future anyway.
Extra expansion teams have been included in this model, however this is flexible and can still work if a second Argentinean or Pacific team are not financially possible or ready. They can be excluded without affecting the format.
Equally, it can allow for further expansion into America or Singapore. Teams can be added to the Southern Super League without affecting the format. Surely this would be a more attractive and sustainable model to potential markets?
New Zealand have the depth and market domination for a sixth team. South Africa already have six teams. In Australia, talk about a second NSW team gets louder every day.
This would provide a Super Rugby game every week in Australia’s biggest market and would finally deliver a domestic competition.
SANZAR should also do the scheduling itself. Do not get some foreign company that has little understanding of the intricacies required. It is 2016, your local computer store would have the software, the current set-up simply leaves too much on the table.
Also, wha are we not scheduling a full round of games on Anzac Day weekend, an important date for both New Zealand and Australia? We could have three New Zealand teams against three Australia teams. These games would be part of the Southern Super League and for that year ensure that these games are the first Trans-Tasman games.
Anzac Day 2018 falls on a Wednesday so why not schedule one game in New Zealand and one in Australia? The AFL and NRL milk this for every cent it is worth, why is rugby not doing the same?
This is just a proposal. However, it is interesting that recent comments from SANZAR that the competition structure can change before the current five-year broadcast deal is up just highlights that change is already being considered.
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.