Well, SANZAAR have gone and done it again.
Though the rumours have been doing the rounds for a little while, reports surfaced on both sides of the Tasman yesterday that Sunwolves officials and players were told on Tuesday that their days in Super Rugby are officially numbered.
Initial reports suggested Super Rugby reverting to a 14-team round robin format would happen as soon as next season, but it appears now that SANZAAR, the joint venture of the four national unions, will bizarrely insist on the Sunwolves playing out the 2020 season, the final year of the current TV deal.
And as ridiculous as this very obviously is, it’s still not the strangest element of this whole story.
For once again, it’s South Africa throwing their weight around and pulling the SANZAAR strings for their own benefit.
Jamie Pandaram outlined in his Daily Telegraph article that while “Rugby Australia and New Zealand were keen to persist with the Sunwolves as a long-term strategy for growth in Asia, South Africa was vehemently opposed.”
“It’s understood there were threats of financial penalties from South African rugby officials to Australia and New Zealand if the Sunwolves remained,” Pandaram wrote.
The Australian also reported that the Sunwolves refused to pay a participation fee, the only team in the competition asked for such a contribution.
South Africa had already made the Sunwolves play in Singapore and Hong Kong so as to minimise their travel requirements from the Republic to play the Tokyo-based side, and now it seems they no longer want to travel even half way.
Using that same logic, the Australian sides should insist on playing the Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers in Perth, while the Kiwis can roll out the welcome mats for the South Africans on Norfolk Island.
Equally strange is the Japanese Union believing the Top League will be fine for their ongoing development and readiness for the proposed Nations Championship.
That they are evidently leading the charge to put the Sunwolves on ice should not surprise; they weren’t ever bankrolling the Super Rugby venture in the first place, just as there’s no evident interest in Super Rugby beyond their hosting of the Rugby World Cup later this year.
So, if half the SANZAAR partnership would allow their support of the Sunwolves to be rolled by just a quarter of the same body, what is really at play here?
Why wouldn’t Australia and New Zealand take this moment as the green light to test the waters for a complete revamp of the competition centralised around our own time zones, built around the existing teams either side of the Tasman, a Japanese team or two, and the very welcome addition of a team or teams from the Pacific Islands?
The second question remains unanswered, sadly, and you can’t help but feel a major opportunity to reshape the professional game in and potentially around the Pacific rim has been missed. A genuine chance to call South Africa’s bluff has been let through to the ‘keeper.
Why?
Well, I suspect the answer to that question is also weaved into the answer to the first question above.
Though the SANZAAR partners are at odds over the future of the Sunwolves, they are all very much – Argentina included; they’ve been strangely silent on this Super Rugby issue – in universal agreement about their support of World Rugby’s Nations Championship concept.
Hayden Parker reacts after a Sunwolves loss. (Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images for SUNWOLVES)
And that perhaps provides a clue as to why this decision has been made.
The Nations Championship needs The Rugby Championship to be united and staunch in its support. The only way World Rugby can have any chance of warding off the very real threat of the Six Nations cashing in on their own lucrative offers is to bring the southern hemisphere competition into the same conversation.
South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand need to keep hold of their best players. Argentina do whatever Agustín Pichot says. Japan now has a proper chance to be recognised as a genuine Tier One nation, while Fiji is just desperate to hold onto the long overdue recognition they’re now receiving.
Effectively, Australia and New Zealand have been convinced by South Africa to play the long game.
This short-term narrow-mindedness in punting the Sunwolves side despite everything they’ve brought to Super Rugby in just three seasons – and the numerous financial opportunities that have evolved for the nine teams either side of the ditch – in favour of the long-term possibilities and major paydays for the national bodies by going all in on the Nations Championship.
Japan won’t need Super Rugby if the plan gets up. Argentina are bang up for another lift in global rugby fortunes.
Australia’s and New Zealand’s “long-term strategy for growth in Asia” just won’t stack up, evidently.
Hendrik Tui of the Sunwolves. (Photo by Lionel Ng/Getty Images)
The craziness of the whole situation is only matched by the likelihood of SANZAAR insisting that the Sunwolves play the 2020 Super Rugby season under the existing terms of the current broadcast deal.
Frankly, I hope the Sunwolves tell either SANZAAR to stick that idea where it fits, or the South African teams that they will only play in Tokyo next year.
This whole thing is a mess. And it brings into question the real equity – never mind the point – of the SANZAAR partnership.
But at least the South Africans won’t have to fly to Tokyo once every two seasons.
Oh, and SANZAAR’s response to the reports?
“SANZAAR will issue an official statement on the future of the Super Rugby tournament on Friday 22 March at 14:00 Sydney local time.
“SANZAAR and its stakeholders will not be making any comment on Super Rugby until the statement has been released.”
Hardly a denial.
(Footnote: the approximate flying distance from Johannesburg to Tokyo is only around 1300kms further than Johannesburg to Auckland, which in turn is roughly 1100km further than Johannesburg to Sydney.)
Istanbul Wingman
Roar Guru
Super Rugby needs to keep its feet on the ground. There needs to be a much stricter criteria for new teams. The competition must remain strong and competitive. They gave into emotional blackmail from outside the competition, and they gave in to petty provincialism from within. They need to bring back the geographical names if they want to sell it to an international audience. The conference system really wasn't the problem. Super Rugby just tried to be the NFL without anything that makes the NFL awesome.
sheek
Roar Guru
Bully for you then.
Old Bugger
Guest
No, haven't seen that release. All NZ rugby columnists are reporting on a 14 team round-robin, a 6 team finals series and less rugby games between the NZ teams.
Big Dave
Roar Rookie
Not sure if you saw but they said yesterday the new comp would include 2 byes and a 6 team finals series.
Gary
Guest
it's ok , I didn't expect you would.
Old Bugger
Guest
What we don't know is if a bye or byes, will be a part of this new 14 team format. IMO, I hope they give byes a miss - they were never a part of the original SR comps and were only introduced, when the comp went to 15 teams. And lastly, the conference system was introduced mainly to give SARU and RA teams a chance to reach the finals because let's be honest, neither of their teams were capable of reaching the finals before-hand. Travel was still going to be a factor with or without conferences and ratings in SARU and RA-land would increase only because, their fans were getting sick and tired of seeing their teams failing to succeed, against overseas opposition. At least the chance to watch their own win against their own, was a lot better than not seeing a win, against their overseas invaders.
Danny McGowan
Roar Rookie
So has anyone (Brett included) have any suggestions who should underwrite the Sunwolves if the JRU won't? As I keep saying it easy to say bloody Sanzaar etc, but we can't just keep saying keep them in without someone underwriting them. Doubt whether ARU could they forked out enough with Rebels, Force, Brumbies over the years!
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
Yeah, I was wrong on this one. More than happy to admit it. Very sad day for rugby fans, for the sport in Asia and especially for the Sunwolves' players and their very passionate fans.
Kick n Clap
Guest
Typical - statement from a “Rugger Yawion person”,who aren’t actually better than anybody else? So a young lad who signs from West Africa signs for Chelsea and plays for six seasons and earns $ 4million is now better than David Pocock, but because he is not middle class and didn’t save the White Rhinos is not worthy? That’s what is wrong with wealth? Doesn’t t always bring you happiness? I’m happy with Bradford’s junior development plan though? That’s what gives me satisfaction...
Kick n Clap
Guest
That’s like me saying the AB’s aren’t the best Rugby team on the planet? I am very confident the Kangaroos would give the a good game.
Kick n Clap
Guest
I love ,Fantasy & Fiction books too. I have read “Willy Wonky” & “ Imaginary Farce who Take Over” the world”?? Unfortunately, I woke up from my Day-dream & Bond had still killed the Bad guy who was trying spoil RU landscape in Oz.
Kick n Clap
Guest
Time to lump onto Broncos then?
Kick n Clap
Guest
So Rebels have over 25,000 paying members then?
Kick n Clap
Guest
Give you’re head shake. You really are in Larlarland. Come to SOO and see some real Rugby players?
Kick n Clap
Guest
DNZ , As NRL fan you talk the most sense. As out & out Northern Rugby League fan growing up in the Frozen North of England, I no more about the Bigtory of RU ? I played in Wales. Loved the people. It was their game. No problem. What, I do have problem with is Saffa’s and people from English shires saying they only like RU, because that is what they are use to? It’s like me transporting a “dye in the wool” from Kalgoorlie to Newcastle in England or to the majority of Scotland. Football is “King”. Nothing comes close. FACT..
Kick n clap
Guest
Fionn, I will have bet with now then. I bet WRU2019 mimic’s Tonga’s set up for Japan. Imitation is best form of flattery. 45,000 + there at Brisbane tonight. I was cynical,as you were in my distance past, but after emigrating, I found my religion was stronger in Oz. Roll onto to the Origin full house and the NRL Perth franchise coming to fruition. I don’t personally like watching Willy Wonker & the Asia Flying Circus?
Clash
Roar Pro
Probably get pelters but surely I’m not the only one who has zero interest in South African rugby matches. Different with the internationals where we can see great games against the Springboks. I will get up in the middle of the night to watch these. Stormers, Lions, et al should be in northern hemisphere rugby which is closer. It’s been smashing watching the Sunwolves games (even although there are only three of four actual Japanese playing…. heh heh) as there are some superb players to watch.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Yup. It's what made SH rugby so dominant in the first place. Great comment. Thanks.
Aussieinexile
Roar Rookie
You had to admit the gall of expelling the Sun Wolves in world cup year in Japan. Who thinks of this things? South Africa want their cake and eat it.. it seems to me they realised they are starting to loose financial control and trying to cover their bases if the PRO 14 Experiment fails. up until now having Sun Wolves in the Australian Conference there was a developing business relationships with Japanese companies, looking at attendance figures Australian teams and the Sunwolves themselves beginning to develop real interest among both sets of fans, which could have brought real returns by 2021. This mean the power shifts away from South Africa, without any bargaining power SA would be left exposed hence why Argentina voted with them (AP finger prints) who want to be a permanent power in the top table.
Danny McGowan
Roar Rookie
Yep JN, I think the people who think SA should walk are not too aware of the game and it's strengths. NZ has always said that SA is a very important part of how they want to be going forward. One of the main arguments I hear is the games are not in a good time slot for Aussie. Guess what, games from Australia are not really a great time slot for NZ either, a lot of people don't find a 10pm kick off much more palatable than a 3 to 4am one. As a kiwi who actually lives here, I would much rather have the super comp involving all 3 original countries, to get the whole range of rugby that is played in the countries.