Serious ‘fightin’ words’ from the Melbourne Rebels on Friday evening leaves the Australian Rugby Union in a very precarious position in its quest to strengthen-by-contraction. And as a flow-on, it further erodes SANZAAR’s battle to stay relevant as an administrator of southern hemisphere rugby.
Now entering a seventh week after vowing to decide “in the next 48-72 hours” whether the Rebels or Western Force would be sacrificed to appease the SANZAAR partners and their desire to cull Super Rugby back to 15 teams in 2018, the ARU are seriously up against it.
Facing imminent legal action whichever way it goes, the ARU is evidently no closer to a decision. Momentum seemed to have shifted last week, with a few whispers floating around that a deal to buy out and close down the Rebels was close. Certainly, all the discussion seemed to have drifted away from the Force, and toward the Rebels as the team to go.
Then came the press release.
“The Melbourne Rebels wish to reiterate its clear legal position that the ARU has no legal right to “cut” them as a team in the Super Rugby Competition,” the angry Victorians opened with, as they marked out their long run.
“The ARU must come out and publicly put an end to the speculation.”
Then came the part of the statement that you know came with some angry typing. Real fingers-through-the-keyboard stuff. And I want to preface this part by saying ‘for the avoidance of doubt’ is an under-utilised phrase when it comes to angry press releases.
(AAP Image/Joe Castro)
“For the avoidance of any doubt whatsoever, neither the Melbourne Rebels nor its owners will engage with the ARU in relation to the sale or cancellation of its Super Rugby licence.” You could picture Andrew Cox metaphorically thumping the lectern in defiance as he thundered the words down the corridors at Rebels HQ.
So that was that. The Rebels’ statement went on for another five paragraphs after this, but the crux of the matter was clear: our legal position remains, you’ve still not explained anything, and we’re no longer interested in talking.
In chess, you’d call that a solid ‘check’ move. It’s not checkmate, but it’s a pretty clear notice of intent.
Thinking about this statement over the weekend, and talking to a few rugby people, and reading a few articles here and there, one common thought kept coming up.
How far are we from the point where SANZAAR has to step in and declare they have no option but to run an 18-team competition in 2018 (and possibly beyond)?
If the Australian, or indeed, the South African Rugby Unions report at the next SANZAAR meeting in June that they are still no closer to finalising their previously agreed four teams for the 2018 season, how much more time can SANZAAR genuinely give them?
Draws have to be created. Flights, hotels, transfers, and travel plans competition-wide all need to be pre-booked. Teams have to be advised so that they can commence planning their own schedules and selling sponsorships and memberships. Broadcasters will be waiting for the schedule so that they can create their coverage plans, and the various stadia required across the competition will need to be secured, too.
The ARU are said to have agreed to a don’t-call-it-extraordinary ‘special’ meeting, possibly even this week, as called for by the Victorian Rugby Union and the Rugby Union Players Association. The VRU and the players – and RugbyWA, presumably – will be walking into that meeting expecting answers.
But given what’s gone on to date, what will the ARU really be able to tell them? RugbyWA will still have their legal ace locked and loaded and ready to play, and as soon as the word ‘buyout’ is mentioned, the Rebels will presumably cover their ears and start saying, “la, la, la, lalalala, I can’t hear you…”
I can already see the “ARU offers no further clarity” headlines for the next day’s papers.
And you can bet the SARU and the Super Rugby sides in the Republic will be watching on, too.
(AAP Image/Richard Wainwright)
Their idea to ‘place’ their two surplus teams in other competitions sounds good in theory, but will quite likely prove difficult. The Pro12 competition has been mooted, but you’d imagine the very first hurdle – the thought of playing at altitude or on the coast in the middle of cricket season in South Africa – will prove too high for the European clubs to get over with only a few weeks to think about it.
So come June, what will SANZAAR do if the ARU and SARU both walk in looking rather sheepish, and confess that they both still have more than four teams expecting to play Super Rugby next season?
It’s at this point we need to remember that SANZAAR as a body is little more than a handful of people in an office in Bondi Junction, in Sydney’s east, running a competition as agreed by the decision makers. Those actual decision makers are, of course, the four national southern hemisphere unions: the SARU, New Zealand Rugby, the ARU, and the Unión Argentina de Rugby.
It’s all fine and well to say ‘SANZAAR just need to make a decision about Super Rugby’, but when two of the four partners can’t do that in their own right, then how on earth are the four partners collectively going to tell half of themselves what to do?
Furthermore, we already know that in the event of SANZAAR non-decision about change, the status quo is always the fall-back position. Just last year, when they couldn’t collectively agree on a ‘better’ format for the 2017 finals, the same playoffs format from 2016 was the outcome.
So again, at which point will SANZAAR reach the conclusion that the only way forward in 2018 is with 18 teams?
My suspicion is that date is approaching rather quickly. The 2017 draw was made public in the middle of September 2016, and the middle of September this year could be little over four months in advance of the next SANZAAR meeting in June.
That’s really not that far away when you think of all the logistical work that would need to be drafted, pre-approved, pre-booked, ratified by four national boards and something like a dozen broadcasters, and then finally, released to the public. The only decision that can be agreed upon collectively mightn’t be that far away.
The only certainty right now is that the indecision and the ongoing damage to the Super Rugby brand, and everything else that comes with it can’t carry on forever.
A calendar on the wall of a Bondi Junction office might hold the answer.
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
More like stoolpigeon....
Keith of WA
Guest
TWAS....Straw man argument... go look it up
gatesy
Roar Guru
A word of warning for the Brumbies - if that meeting does happen and you attend, be ready for an ambush and be prepared.
Big Steve
Guest
couldn't agree more. play everyone once. get rid of the conferences completely. swap home and away each year. finals based on ladder standings. the aus v aus games are horrible. that's the thing that killed super rugby for me. playing teams twice has ruined the excitement and they don't get big crowds anyway. waratahs brumbies once a year will get much bigger crowds.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
The Force funding may be secure, but the ARU need their contributions to the Force to be re-routed to prop up the rebels contact an pay for topups for the players in the 3 founding sides.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
if today's trend is anything to go by, they will just keep reaching down to the Pindan Competition and keep dragging green players up from below and battle hardening them in cauldron with a baptism of fire. The are pretty good at talent spotting and nurturing players in the Sydney comp.
cinque
Roar Rookie
Okay, drive a train through these rookie thoughts .... To the Jaguares "Look, it hasn't worked. Flying there is nearly enough to make players want to switch codes. I can only imagine how it must feel for your troops. No wonder your performances are going South. Suggest you go back to selecting teams from Europe, like Oz soccer does. You're OUT" To the Sunwolves "Apparently you have the money and you are hosting the next big shindig. I like your style of play, just need to rent some bigger pigs from the old world. Only don't play in Singapore. I guess Honkers is too expensive. Pity. You're IN." To the six South African Teams "Hmm. Was this 4-conference system your idea? Looks that way. You are always threatening to go North, maybe now is the time to leave the sinking ship. I gather your crowds are down, your Union is short of funds, as is the country as a whole. Then there's the politics. Too hard to unscramble. Again, travel - time & cost - is a clincher. Time to disband SANZ AAARGH. So back to curry for all six of you. No need to draw straws. All OUT." to: NZ "Stay where you are, keep up the good work. No I don't mean play with yourselves. Just keep your players where they belong. I'll admit we NEED your off-cuts but we don't WANT them. Capiche? It's a pride thing, I guess. You're IN, if you wish." to Rebels: "Eeeny-meeny. Hated the 3 amigos and style over substance, threats from a private owner. On the other hand, Melbourne does sport well and there are heaps of rugby refugees from other states and lands, something the Storm miss out on. Too early to bail. You're IN but get new physios, trainers and work on tackling technique. "Half the team is crook" won't be an acceptable excuse from here on." to Force: "We can't go round culling from other countries, while clinging to all our own. I know, the corner is turning but I believe Perth is a long way away and - correct me if I'm wrong - it will be more expensive to ditch the Rebels." to Reds/Tahs/Brumbies: "Pin 0-25 on the dressing room wall. You can learn from this, perhaps you already have. You will be able to cut some dritwood, go back to basics and emerge bright-eyed in the new year." What's left? 10 teams in a narrow time zone. That should work. Super 10 ran in two pools but we don't need that . 18 rounds home/away. Top four to semis, 1 v 4, 2 v 3. Final in Hong Kong. (Just kidding). Pay $100 to some kid in Bangalore to devise a draw that minimizes travel and byes. Scrub the trial matches, teams hit the ground running. Regaining June for Super Rugby will allow the whole thing to be done and dusted in time for the 4 nations and NRC/NPC. Oh yes, and ditch the Giteau rule.
Loftus
Guest
Uhmm, where do you see Bulls fans waving a white flag to Super rugby? And what do you imply with it? Do you think the Bulls fans should toi toi in the streets, or what should they do when their team have a poor season? Why do the Bulls get mentioned when talking about culling, and not the Waratahs in Australia?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
I would have opted for a 3x6 conference structure like the 15 team version, with fixture changes to suit our market. Would NZ and SA agree to this? If not it's a moot point.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
No. But only minor tweaks and planning for success down the track are realistic, not major changes and immediate success.
ScottD
Roar Guru
I never said it was, I just tabled the numbers What are you getting at?
Sydneysider
Guest
"The sad fact remains, of the four major footy codes in this country, rugby is by far the most successful. Furthermore of all the major women’s footy codes in Australia rugby is the only code to have won gold at an Olympic games. " This means absolutely nothing in the Australian marketplace because if it did, then AFL wouldn't be so dominant in Australia. Also the A-League wouldn't get the big following it gets because of it's status as not being a top tier league in world football.
Sydneysider
Guest
"I don’t think there is some realistic and magical plan Sheek." So you accept the status quo which is the sinking ship of Australian rugby. It's already happening in front of your eyes. Can't wait for 2020 to roll around and a reduced TV distribution to the ARU and even lower crowds and TV ratings.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
I don't think there is some realistic and magical plan Sheek. I've been pretty clear on that.
sheek
Roar Guru
TWAS, I wasn't asking you a trick question. Why not submit an article on your plan? Encapsulate all the arguments & counter shoot-downs of everyone else's points in one article. Yes, I'm making a pointed dig that it's easy to attack everyone else's suggestions, but it takes some guts to stick your neck out. Put your ideas out there. Who knows, we might all agree with them! Use your fabulous use of facts to stun us all. One way to find out.....
sheek
Roar Guru
PeterK, Too sensible to keep 18 teams & group them in 3 x 6. But sense might prevail, even if it caused so much unnecessary damage in the meantime.
Bakkies
Guest
'I’m not sure where the spin in that is, Bakkies. They’ve been the 3rd Austrian team over the last 4 seasons.' They wouldn't be if MOC and Dick Graham weren't coaching the Reds. Papering over cracks and they are now at their more natural level.
Bakkies
Guest
SARU have a deadline in late June
Bakkies
Guest
'I can’t see why this simplest of options has seemingly not been investigated.' Two words New Zealand. It was clear the NZRU didn't want that without looking deeply in to suitable models.
Bakkies
Guest
'The travel issue is not hard to solve. Base the SA teams in the NH.' How does that benefit the local supporters and who pays for them to stay in Europe?