Australian Super Rugby franchises have expressed concern that the sounding of the death knell on the Sunwolves could lead to less matches and a further downturn in interest in the game.
NSW coach Daryl Gibson fears the Waratahs will lose games if, as expected, the Tokyo-based Sunwolves are cut when SANZAAR makes an announcement on the future of the competition on Friday.
“We need rugby. That’s the important thing,” Gibson said amid speculation the competition to revert to 14 teams from 2021 after the current broadcast deal expires next year.
A 14-team competition would likely result in a return to a round-robin format, also marking the end of the unpopular conference system.
But such a development would also mean the Waratahs – and all other teams – would only play 14 games during the home-and-away campaign, rather than the 16 they’ll play this season.
“It’s hard to say what the format’s is going to be. Is it going to be a round robin, is it going to be biannual home and away, who knows?,” Gibson said.
“It’s certainly been a big issue for the competition in making sure the format is correct and that we do have a format where you’re not away from your home base for, say, four or five weeks on end.”
That will be the case this year when the Waratahs go four weeks between home games during a three-game spell in South Africa and Queensland.
Gibson said NSW Rugby had always supported the Sunwolves inclusion in the competition and would like the states to have more of a say in the running of the tournament.
Having played the Sunwolves in Tokyo three weeks ago, he felt Japanese rugby fans had embraced the expansion franchise.
“They’re getting excellent support,” Gibson said.
“The crowd numbers have probably gone through that period where you’ve got an expansion team trying to forge a new market.”
Brumbies captain Christian Lealiifano said it would be disappointing to see the Sunwolves cut.
“It’s never nice to hear that a team is going to be axed,” he said.
“You’re always wanting to be growing our game, not only in our country, but globally.
“I think they’ve been a team that has been continually growing and being a threat in this competition. They’re not easybeats anymore.
“We already cut the Western Force and it’s hurt us a bit in this country.”
SANZAAR said in a statement on Wednesday it would make an announcement on the future format of Super Rugby on Friday at 2pm (AEDT).
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.
dazell
Roar Rookie
Super Rugby and SANZAAR are broken, need to go back to the drawing board. I honestly remember watching just NSW playing Queensland annually with more passion than I do current Super Rugby games. It's not helped by not being able watch NSW play every week due to byes and the south African time zone but for me SR has lost its soul.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Nah. I really don't see that. It's not like they spread the games out. They remain at the same frequency. One game every second week for 12 weeks doesn't change much to one game every second week for 16. I understand your point on the scarcity argument but can't see a case where they have less product to sell as part of the memberships and less regular visibility for sponsors being better for them financially. Most importantly it's the codes with the longer seasons that are swallowing SR up.
Don
Roar Rookie
Or, if they marketed better and were playing good winning footy you could see larger crowds at the fewer games due to reduced supply. Depending on their stadium deal they might be better off financially to have fewer games.
Hertryk
Roar Rookie
The answer is always to AXE ..what a load of... Shafting the players and fan base from the West worked.. NOT!! If it wasn't so serious for the love of our game it would be hilarious.. Thank God for Twiggy I say and up yours RA!!! and the rest of the cretins supposedly running the "show"
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Yeah I can't imagine any franchise is thrilled with the prospect of less home games. If anything SR is actually too short for teams to be profitable. NH teams lost money playing 20+ games per year.
Realist
Guest
The Sunwolves had to go (and so do the Pumas) however the African conference must own the responsibility for this axing. The stuff around it has placed on the comp accomodating that ridiculous 6th team a few years back started the whole show. Aus Rugby is in a shambles however if both Aus and SAF reduced down to 3 teams - each would provide a great spectacle (even factoring in the talent drain overseas). As long as the Michael Chiekas and Alastair Coetzees are kept away from the national sides it shouldn’t be too much to ask for gradual improvement
Josh
Guest
My guess is that what you will see is 13 games playing everyone once and then 3 -4 more games against sides in your own market. So for example the tahs will play an extra game against QLD, Brumbies, Melb and mayby one other but with a single ladder not a conference ladder
Big Dave
Roar Rookie
So down from 8 home games per year to 7 one year and 6 the next. A big drop. If they want round robin they're better doing it with 15 teams ironically enough...
Pinetree
Roar Rookie
"But such a development would also mean the Waratahs – and all other teams – would only play 14 games during the home-and-away campaign..." You don't play yourself in a round robin, so that would be 13 games if there are 14 teams...
Istanbul Wingman
Roar Guru
Main concern about returning to round-robin is it will be an absolute killer for the Jaguares.