Rugby was a far more simple game in the Southern Hemisphere in 1986.
Queensland, New South Wales, Auckland, Canterbury, Wellington and Fiji came together that year to contest the inaugural South Pacific Championship (the SPC).
According to Wikipedia, the SPC was organised by the New South Wales Rugby Union to provide regular matches for the New South Wales and Queensland teams in an attempt to compete against the ever-expanding popularity of rugby league.
Auckland and Canterbury were invited into the competition “due to their close links forged over many years with the New South Wales and Queensland unions respectively”.
Wellington was invited due to having an international airport in the city while Fiji was “the most competitive of the Pacific rugby teams”.
The SPC ran successfully for five years until 1990 and formed the basis for Super Rugby as we know it today.
Fast forward to 2017. What has gone wrong since 1986? Why is the offspring of the SPC and its standards backpedalling?
For starters, there were six teams in the inaugural SPC and there are now 18 in its successor while the Pacific nations have been shut out cold.
The best provincial teams of New Zealand and South Africa were also phased out and their Super Rugby teams became a combination of numerous provincial teams while Australia simply opened up shops in Canberra, Perth and Melbourne and transplanted players into them.
Likewise, Argentina and Japan rapidly formed teams in the hope of competing in the Super Rugby behemoth for the start of 2016 and although trying admirably they have failed.
There is nothing wrong with admitting failure which SANZAAR did in April. However, the avid rugby supporter knew the plight of the move to expand to 18 teams was doomed before the governing body did.
Would there have been anything wrong with SANZAAR admitting it erred by including Argentina and Japan and removing them? Likewise, should South Africa have been ever allowed to receive a sixth spot?
Instead the country which founded the concept of a cross-border provincial competition in the Southern Hemisphere was told in no uncertain terms that it had to cut teams.
Now the dust has settled from the initial shock, there is only one road for Australia: Australian rugby must go it alone immediately. Plans need to be put in place for a domestic competition only. Remember Australia started this concept and it can change the concept.
(AAP Image/Ross Setford)
The original blueprint of the SPC has changed and it is clear the vision of SANZAAR at the provincial level no longer aligns with that of Australian rugby.
SANZAAR can continue to administer The Rugby Championship in the same way as the Six Nations but a domestic competition of 12-16 teams should be put in place for the protection of the future of rugby in Australia.
Australia needs to work on its own rugby competition and get its house in order to arrest the worrying trend of not competing to the standard required in trans-Tasman Test matches but also to help stop the procession of our players heading overseas.
We need to grow our game internally and no longer rely on New Zealand and South African teams to assist – purportedly – in our development. Test rugby is the playing field where Australia can “test” its standards.
The English competition has it right. The Aviva Premiership has 12 teams and is a focused domestic competition which fosters strong competition among players for spots in the England team. England do not need other teams from other countries in its domestic competition for its national team to remain competitive.
But it is rugby’s supporters in Australia who will gain the most. Imagine six or eight games on Fox Sports every weekend from Australia and involving Australian teams. The supporter will have an alternative to watching the eight games of AFL and eight games of NRL when the rugby cupboard is bare.
You may ask how will rugby increase its revenue from $128.575 million (2016) to compete with the NRL ($375.709 million) and AFL ($517 million) without Super Rugby?
Rugby in Australia may take a hit if it leaves Super Rugby in the short-term but it may be what’s needed to survive. Test matches will still flourish and perhaps if overseas clubs start paying 10 per cent or more of a player’s contract to a country’s union, the cash-rich clubs of Europe and Japan can compensate Australia for developing its players.
Super Rugby’s salary cap is a combined $25 million. With the assistance of broadcasters and sponsors, Australia could continue at that same level with the opportunity for greater revenue in the decades to game if it concentrates on the domestic game. Super Rugby costs of $8 million will also decrease off the balance sheet with less international travel. While Australian player payments should be made on a Test-by-Test basis similar to England.
When it is all said in done, what is the fall-back plan for Australian rugby if New Zealand and South Africa (and Argentina and Japan) end it all with Australia tomorrow and go it alone themselves?
Rugby in Australia needs to grow the game from the ground up again. Australia controlled its own destiny in 1986 and it is time it goes back to 1986 to find its future.
Baz
Guest
Don't panic. Everything should be fine this weekend. We will beat those classy Italians by at least 7 points. The ARU and Wallabies will slap each other on the back and pretend there are plenty of good signs for the future. Kafe will tell us on Kick and Chase that there are plenty of good things that came out of the game. He will even use state of the art electronics to convince us of how things are on the improve. And we will watch and shake our heads in disbelief. The ARU is in a state of denial. To be totally honest I think most Australian Union supporters are looking forward to watching the ABs take on the Lions. We can at least support a competitive neighbor take on the next best in the world. Now that is worth watching because at least we are not losing.
Baz
Guest
Pretty much unanimous support. Basically a domestic comp and retain existing Oz franchises aligned to provinces. Grow the grass roots. Get rid of SAANZAR. Sounds good to me. So what is the ARU plan? Seems they don't have one. So what the hell are we paying them for. The biggest problem with Rugby Union is Australia is lack of leadership. Forget about skills, competition for talent and free to air. We need a man (or woman) with a sensible plan.
Wozza
Guest
I love this idea Sheek. We could have a domestic comp with the 5 current Super teams and maybe throw in a combined Sydney, and possibly combined Brisbane, teams to allow the cream of the Sydney and Brisbane club comps to play. Then have the top 4 Super teams go on to play in the next Super rugby comp and allow the competing teams to draft players from the team which doesn't qualify. We keep our five teams who all have the chance to compete in Super rugby, have a domestic comp running concurrently with the RC as the next tier to develop players
Garyowen
Guest
Change Sanzaar back to Sanzar and the 15 teams which made up the original Sanzar and completely change the existing ARU Board because it's pretty obvious they are solely responsible for the present mess .As I have said before SA should have been told to sort out their internal fight IE the new regime demanding better representation of the mass populace. Why the heck were Argentine and Japan involved. Both have enough local teams and money to run a similar style competition as South Africa and New Zealand without wrecking Australia's attempt to expand the game by including Perth and Melbourne making rugby a quality game played country wide. What is happening here is similar to the GST mess. Pinch WA's revenue to make the greedy Eastern Staters look better than the West. Quality international players are now being produced here but the East want them .
Doctor Dbx
Guest
That's the spirit. What we need is more money for wallpaper and league converts. Clearly this strategy has worked so far.
Drongo
Guest
"But it is rugby’s supporters in Australia who will gain the most. Imagine six or eight games on Fox Sports every weekend from Australia and involving Australian teams. The supporter will have an alternative to watching the eight games of AFL and eight games of NRL when the rugby cupboard is bare." This is the key for success. It is the model used by the other competing codes very successfully. It is what Australians want. It is so obviously the only way to go yet the powers that be won't even contemplate it.
Kevin Higginson
Guest
Agree, all the SA teams will divorce SR and make a new life with Pro12 - money talks especially as the time zones mean the SA teams will get more TV money. This will mean Aus can keep its 5 teams, and leave a Super12. The only difference I would see is keeping the conferences, but add Sunwolves to Aus and Jaguares to NZ. Play home and way in conference - 10 matches and home or away v other conference - 6 matches. Conference winners plus next best 3 records overall (wildcards) qualify for play offs. Conference winners seeded 1 & 2, and follow McIntyre format.
peeeko
Roar Guru
i think you underestimate the difficulty in running a viable national competition.
Kashmir Pete
Roar Guru
12 teams with great potential roots for rivalry - Sheikh I know you demur, but maybe history can be built anew! 1. Perth - exclusive on African imports 2. Adelaide - exclusive on Northern Hemisphere imports 3. Melbourne - exclusive on NZ imports 4. Brumbies - (ACT + Riverina + NSW south coast) 5. Barrier Reef Coast/Cairns - exclusive on Fiji/Tonga/Samoa imports 6. North Brisbane/Sunshine Coast - based out of Reds stadium 7. South Brisbane/Gold Coast - also based out of Reds stadium 8. Surfies out of Newcastle - (NSW north coast) 9. Country Devils out of Toowoomba/Bathurst - (southern/western QLD + rest of NSW) - plus the Tasmanians! 10. Northside - play Saturdays at Manly, Friday nights at North Sydney 11. Westies - play out of Parramatta - all west of Gladesville Bridge 12. Southside - play out of Allianz (includes eastern suburbs)
John
Guest
I agree there is no tribalism in the Super 18 or whatever it is. We don't care anymore about the game at the provincial level and test level. If you start an all aussie competition then change these rules: have the teams 5 metres back after every phase so we get some entertainment and bring back the running game. Each linesmen can police that; no kick outs on the full; have a stop clock on lineouts and scrums and depower them in a positive way that still maintains scrummaging supremacy - just speed them up safely; encourage and reward backline moves as opposed to 49 phases of crap eg if the ball goes through 10 or more sets of hands in one play that results in a try then they get a bonus point; and finally MAKE IT A 10 RULE GAME - wipeout the 150 odd stupid rules and in the process make the referee a passenger and not the main attraction. We want matches with only a handful of penalties not 50 like now.
James Pettifer
Guest
Let's be honest. It is very likely that South Africa will leave Super Rugby in 2020 for Europe (if the 2 teams going to the Pro 12 actually happens that is). We need to be ready to go with a new competition. Options are either to do a trans tasman competition (which NZ don't want) or our own. I really like the idea of a 12-16 team competition. One of the big problems with Super Rugby is that there are just not enough games in Australia to maintain interest. As Fitzsimmons said today "So let's put those resources to what counts: to juniors, to grassroots, to development officers, and to professional players who want to commit to Australian rugby even on lesser coin." I can't believe that we would be unable to run a domestic competition. FFS Ice Hockey does it. Yes we will lose some good players. Many of the Wallabies will go and this would impact Australia in the short term (how much is quite debatable). But it will be better in the long term.
Macdad
Guest
I disagree that that is the answer. It is just not conceivable to me. Argies, Japanese, rebels and 1 or 2 saffa's to go and get the comp back to a more manageable size. Then develop domestic comp that runs after SR finishes
joe b
Guest
Agreed, so many individuals at the admin level, are conflicted with their own reliance on the rugby teat. The ARU does not have the will to breakaway from SANZAAR. And super rugby, as a product, will continue to go down hill. The question now is, can the ARU grow interest in the NRC? Can the state unions, particularly WA and Vic - whomever is cut, can they maintain the participation interest amongst their clubs given the lack of an obvious pathway to super and representative rugby?
Crazy Horse
Roar Pro
http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/who-do-you-think-you-are-kidding-mr-clyne-if-you-think-we-cant-do-sums/ Yes, not only do we have some very good lawyers in WA (we have 4 university law schools) but we’ve got some of the country’s best accountants. Someone is getting rich and it’s not anyone in WA. Rugby. Time for some answers Bill & Co.
Cpt crow eater
Guest
Agree with most here. Unfortunately we're trapped in a super rugby cycle where it's the only thing financing professional rugby here. We need a domestic comp. Bod Dwyer has even come out and mentioned he thinks we could sustain an 6-8 team competition. Unfortunately the earliest it could happen is 2020 after the current TV deal. In the meantime the ARU need to quietly canvass some support and major financial backers. There are rich rugby lovers out there. Ask them and some FTA broadcasters want THEY want to put their money into. Ideal scenario personally : Domestic comp with a champions league style comp for winners against NZ, SA, Japan after the finalisation of the domestic season. And of course Adelaide getting a team.... :D
Dave
Roar Rookie
I totally agree, if they are going to drop one of the Australian teams then Australia should just leave and form a local competition. More importantly they should just make this absolutely clear to SANZAAR, to remove this ridiculous uncertainty hanging over the game - like rugby in Australia needed any more problems surrounding it.
Cato
Guest
Definitely a great idea and so simple. That is exactly why it will never happen under the current ARU regime. They would have to give up their first class flights to Paris and all the round the world junkets if we just reverted to an Aussie competition. The poor things. They may actually have to fly cattle class due to a lack of business class seats when travelling between games. I think it would be terrible to subject the Board of the ARU to sink to such a level of mediocrity. So we need to stand up and preserve the status quo in consideration of these poor souls. Because within 5 years Rugby Union as we know it will cease to exist in this country.
sheek
Roar Guru
Marcus, i've already offered an alternative plan that gives SANZAAR what it wants & protects the Aussie provinces. Preserve the five provinces, just like NZ & SA do, in a domestic national comp. Their history, tradition, heritage & tribalism are too valuable to be trashed by SANZAAR. Give SANZAAR four artificial teams since super rugby is apparently just a revenue raiser. Place the four teams in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne & Perth (the four biggest cities) & call them Cockroaches, Canetoads, Cabbages & Caterpillars. or give them American nicknames & outlandish colour schemes. Just like BBL. Does CA have its states in BBL? No. They are preserved for something more meaningful like Sheffield Shield. The ARU must do the same to protect NSW Waratahs, Queensland Reds, ACT Brumbies, Victoria Rebels & WA Force.
SJB
Guest
Interesting contribution and something for incoming ARU CEO to consider. New CEO should go and chat to Patrick Delany over at Fox Sports as well as CH7 and 9 and come up with a domestic format they would back and see if viable and pull out of Super Rugby. Problem is, people in Canberra know how NSW treats folks outside of its club competition so I imagine would be wary of partisan approaches from QLD and NSW unions.
Ouch
Guest
Are there any Australian, rugby supporting billionaires out there with a lazy $100m+ to help out?