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Opinion

Why the Waratahs and the Reds should be axed from Super Rugby

Roar Rookie
1st May, 2020
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Roar Rookie
1st May, 2020
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It has been a busy month in rugby union.

Australian and New Zealand rugby pockets are a few million dollars lighter.

Australia has sacked Rugby Australia CEO Ralene Castle. The Rugby Australia board appear to be paying heed to former Wallabies captains about the future of the sport.

New Zealand have seen opportunity in the crisis and have embarked upon Project Aratipu, which seeks to grow, regenerate and invigorate the sport.

As Trans-Tasman rivals, Australia (25 million) has five times the population of our little brother New Zealand (five million). Yet despite being a far larger marketplace, since 1996, Australian teams have claimed the Super Rugby title on just four occasions. Little brother has won the title 17 times.

Crusaders players celebrate

(Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images)

Without success, the Australian marketplace has withered and dried up. The Crusaders have been in the grand final on no less than 14 occasions. This effectively sucked up all the oxygen for all other Super Rugby teams. Surprise, surprise, the broadcast revenue cake has steadily shrunk.

At least the AFL has the draft and teams have a fighting chance of gradually becoming the top team in the competition.

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One idea that has been floated on The Roar is for NZ players at the age of 17 to be contracted to NZ rugby, however NZ players would be able to be drafted into Australian teams.

The ideal ten-team Super Rugby season would be made up of three New Zealand teams and seven Australian teams. And yes, there would be free movement of players among the teams with a draft system akin to the AFL.

Gone would be the Queensland Reds and NSW Waratahs. This opens the door for four heartland teams from Brisbane and Sydney. It also offers the chance for a future expansion to Super 12, as well as genuine Queensland versus NSW State of Origin contests.

Harry Wilson in action for the Reds

(Photo by Tracey Nearmy/Getty Images)

My pick for the Anzac Super Ten teams are as follows.

1-3: Three qualifying teams from the Crusaders, Hurricanes, Blues, Highlanders and Chiefs. NZ Mitre Ten teams must duke it out.
4-6: ACT Brumbies, Melbourne Rebels and Western Force.
7-8: Two Brisbane Premier Rugby teams with relegation and demotion from Premier Rugby.
9-10: Two Sydney Shute Shield teams with relegation and demotion from Shute Shield.

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The beauty of qualifications is suddenly the Mitre Ten, Premier Rugby and the Shute Shield become relevant, thereby increasing the value of broadcast rights.

The finals system would be the NRL’s final system from the 1990s, which was great to watch.

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