It’s long been a ‘silver bullet’ pipedream for Australian rugby fans and even Australian rugby broadcasters, but never really given a lot of thought on the New Zealand side of any trans-Tasman thinking. But two recent developments show that this idea is edging closer and closer to reality.
And it’s funny the way these things work.
Over the last twelve or so months, I’ve gained a better understanding of what Kiwis have really thought of the idea, and though the lack of the same enthusiasm as on this side of the ditch didn’t surprise me, the level of ambivalence did.
Plenty could see the merit, they just wondered why it was seen so favourably in Australia.
Then, almost as if to pre-empt the need to really start talking about trans-Tasman rugby as a genuine solution in the current global state of crisis we find ourselves, we started talking about trans-Tasman rugby from both angles.
And this in turn was interesting, because a lot of the New Zealand reporting seemed to really overstate the level of ambivalence that I’d seen myself.
Whereas my discussions might best summarise the Kiwi perspective as “yeah, it probably could work if it ever got to that point”, the reporting was more along the lines of “New Zealand has zero interest in this idea”.
That’s an obvious simplification, but you get my point. We in Australia almost certainly did overestimate Kiwi interest – especially when the topic of South Africa heading north came up – yet suddenly we were being told there was no Kiwi appetite for the idea at all.
How much love is there for trans-Tasman rugby? (AAP Image/Chris Symes)
But late last week and over the weekend, two separate lines of reporting went a long way toward proving that not only is the trans-Tasman idea gaining momentum, but that it’s now being discussed at new levels and in ways that suggest the idea is looking more and more like a genuine basis for future models of the professional game down this way.
The first was a series of reports out of the New Zealand Herald outlining the different thinking going on in New Zealand about how a domestic model might look going forward.
Crusaders coach Scott Robertson had suggested in recent weeks that a home-and-away competition with the exiting Super Rugby franchises was well advanced, and something like that is quite likely the solution to resurrect some form of professional provincial rugby this season, just as it is in Australia.
But the Herald also outlined that other models are in play for 2021, that could see up to two new franchises created in New Zealand, with the possibility of the Pasifika team based out of Suva making up a new-eight team format.
Eight could also become twelve, though, with the addition “of four – preferably East Coast – Australian franchises or clubs”, which the NZH added in it’s typically bolshy, down-the-nose view of Australian rugby, would add some ‘inevitable mismatches’, a convenient ignoring of the opening rounds already played this year.
Crucially, the reports said, Australia’s inclusion would be “dependent on the health of Australian rugby in the post-COVID environment”. New Zealand doesn’t need to prop up Australian rugby, fair enough, but if there’s significant broadcast and commercial benefits, they’re all ears.
It’s become clear through reporting over the ditch over the last week that while a fully professional 14-team Mitre 10 Cup would be every Kiwi rugby fan’s nirvana, there’s just no way it can be feasible. Heavily subsidised as it already is, there just wouldn’t be a local market big enough to pay for it.
Hence, the need to create a market big enough to potentially grow the domestic playing stocks in New Zealand, while also adding a bit of Pacific Island flair. And that’s where Australia fits the picture. Add New Zealand Rugby’s growing ties and interest in Japanese rugby, and it’s not difficult to hear the cogs working on a trans-Tasman model for next season.
And we could even see some form of it this year, with the idea of a coming together of domestic comps on both sides of the ditch to play a form of ‘Super-ish Rugby’ finals already on the table. And that will inevitably be helped by the prospect of a ‘trans-Tasman travel bubble’ opening up later in the year, a topic discussed by our respective Prime Ministers late on Monday afternoon.
The second point that piqued my interest was a phone hook-up by the respective players associations, planned for this week, where senior Wallabies Matt To’omua and Michael Hooper will speak with All Black counterparts to explore trans-Tasman scenarios and competition formats.
“I’ve been talking with Rob (New Zealand Rugby Players Association chief executive Rob Nichol) about the potential for a competition between the two countries and their view is very encouraging about wanting to reach out and have senior player interaction,” RUPA CEO Justin Harrison told the Sydney Morning Herald last Friday.
The fact the player bodies have reached this point is significant. Governing bodes and national unions talk about competition structures and potential formats all the time, but when the players become involved, you know it’s progressed well beyond the whiteboard phase.
Would an AU-NZ Super Rugby comp help or hinder Aussie rugby? (Photo by Patrick HAMILTON / AFP via Getty Images)
Super Rugby as we know it almost certainly can’t continue, with travel costs to South Africa and Argentina alone likely to be beyond prohibitive, so what might all this mean for SANZAAR going forward? The arrival of an exceptionally timely statement while writing this column cleared all this up in ways better than I possibly could have.
“Having spoken with my SANZAAR Board members I can confirm that none of the suggested models or structures that have been commented on recently, such as stand-alone Trans-Tasman formats, have been agreed by any of the SANZAAR unions individually or collectively,” SANZAAR CEO, Andy Marinos, said in the governing body’s statement from the blue.
“All such reports are merely speculative and have no basis to them,” he continued.
“This is not to say that we are not having realistic discussions on what may have to eventuate should COVID-19 restrictions continue beyond 2020. We are presently looking in detail at various competition formats but any agreed format will include teams from all four stakeholder national unions.
“Due to uncertainty over what various government restrictions, if any, may look like next year including international travel, no date has been set yet as to when a decision will be made on 2021 and beyond. A major consideration is that we also have an obligation to discuss any contingencies with our broadcast partners in the first instance after which we will make public comment,” Marinos concluded.
Any questions? Have you ever seen a statement say so little in so many words, even just narrowing that down to SANZAAR statements?
Regardless of whatever the hell the governing body are trying to say, it’s becoming more and more apparent that the idea of trans-Tasman rugby has moved well beyond the pipedream, now catapulted into the realm of reality.
Too much is being written and commented on and reacted to on both sides of the Tasman for the concept to go nowhere now.
And I don’t mind admitting I’m a lot more excited about the game going forward than I was this time last week.
Davico
Roar Pro
That deal kicks in this year! You think it will be honored with no games played? You really think the AB's will be travelling around the globe in the next 3 years? Do people not understand what is going on around the globe currently?
Davico
Roar Pro
Yes but what I am saying is you would be clashing against the 7:30pm AEST games! If you play them earlier then you clash with the 7:30pm NZST games. As I said, depends if you are OK with Clash games or not.
Kevin
Roar Rookie
Yes, combine the current SR teams in NZ, Japan and Aus with the ‘proper’ Asia/Pacific GRR teams. So Blues, Chiefs, Hurricanes, Crusaders, Highlanders Sunwolves Waratahs, Reds, Brumbies, Rebels, With Force, Samoa, Fiji and Tigers Add in 6 th NZ team, would give a nice split of teams. Allow any player to sign to the league and auction them to the teams, encouraged by private investment. 18 match season plus play offs. Private investment from Twiggy, and maybe Chinese (one of the football ams in China are actually nicknamed the South China Tigers, and play in same metropolis that includes HK.) Japan has huge companies involved with rugby. Also name the teams according to the city or region they are based. Potentially add a second Japan team to make a 16 team league. Play a 16 game season
Kevin
Roar Rookie
Just like the cricket franchises Auckland Northern Districts Central districts Wellington Canterbury Otago
Kevin
Roar Rookie
Base it like the cricket. 6 teams, 4 North, 2 south, by adding a team in Napier. And give them full names Auckland Blues Northern Chiefs Central Vikings Wellington Hurricanes Canterbury Crusaders Otago Highlanders These should be owned by the new league and private investment encouraged. The players sign up to the league, and auctioned with certain players being franchise players, just like the IPL. Any player in the auction can be picked by any team. Then NZ players could play in Aus, HK or PI, for the season.
Jaeger
Roar Rookie
Pretty much, this is the only way Super Rugby could work without a continual decline in Australia. How would rugby be in NZ if NZ teams had same success rates as Australia. Another two decades of Crusaders dominance is 100% not in Australia’s interest. And reports of more NZ teams not good for Australia either. More teams just means more years without success for Australian teams. At any rate, I’m now of the opinion Aussie Rugby should get out of Super Rugby and merge with the NRL. Far better short and long term prospects. https://www.theroar.com.au/2020/05/05/what-would-a-combined-rugby-league-and-union-broadcast-package-be-worth/
woodart
Guest
so you want nz rugby to give up a couple of teams AND give you some players as well. ?
Mario
Roar Rookie
Brett Below is some thoughts I put forward on another article In terms of the future of the competition why don’t we tie ourselves to the Asia/Region and use Global Rapid Rugby as a base. The competition/pathway could look something like : 1) Club Rugby State teams competing for a place in Global Rapid Rugby with an opportunity to play in the National Competition 2) Global Rapid Rugby While many of the teams may not currently be that strong, it does help develop the game in one of Rugby’s potential growth areas. As time goes by these teams will only get better. You could look at a promotion/relegation system to National Rugby. If GRR included some AU teams eg the winners of the various state club championships you could have a a playoff between the existing current and new state champion to see who plays in the GRR the next year. This would also help to maintain/develop some tribalism which many are saying is lacking in the current NRC 3) National Rugby (???) The existing 4 super rugby teams + the Western Force and the Sunwolves? There could also be the opportunity to include an NZ team. Each team plays each other on a home and away basis – say a 12 game season (adjust depending on the number of teams). Look at adopting some of the law variations introduced by GRR to keep the game flowing 4) Australia A I would consider using this tier to develop fringe Wallabies and future potential Wallabies with either mid year or end of year tests against the so called Tier two nations. Pros a) help develop the game globally b) increase the player pool for the Wallabies by exposing players to international rugby in a variety of conditions and differing styles of competition c) an additional source of revenue Cons There would be additional costs, but these could be subsidised by World Rugby as part of their plans to grow and develop the game 5) Wallabies You could scrap Giteau’s law and change the Wallaby selection criteria to include any eligible player playing for a team in one these RA sanctioned competitions eg if Sean McMahon, Liam Gill or a Samu Kerevi were doing a guest stint for a GRR club, they would be eligible for Wallabies selection. Under a structure like this there is 1) a clear pathway to the Wallabies, 2) an opportunity to grow the game in the region, 3) provide an increased player base for Wallabies selection 4) provide club Rugby with the incentive of playing in higher levels of competition which would hopefully continue to grow interest in club rugby and its tribalism 5) lastly provide the opportunity for increased revenue and financial stability
Nick Maguire
Roar Rookie
Jacko, beats me mate you'd have to ask them because I don't get it. Even if RA had rolled over the Foxtel deal all bets would have been off or potentially Foxtel goes broke, which they may still do. A competitive tender was the right and proper thing to do but you know, Covid. Sometime it's better to be lucky than good!
Brian
Guest
Australia should not need to use New Zealand players to field competitive teams. There are as many, if not more, senior male players in Australia than New Zealand. What Australia does need to do is improve the skills and conditioning of those players to the level of New Zealand players. This whole business of a draft between countries is simply to let Australian rugby off the hook for not having quality coaching. A draft within countries is fine. New Zealand rugby should not, and I can see no situation where they would agree to, have their players in Australia. It all comes down to intellectual property. And unfortunately at the moment rugby in Australia has very little
Jacko
Guest
So why was the fact that Castle hadnt secured a TV deal such a big part of the 10 hateful ex captains then? NZ HAS one and contracts will certainly be discussed at high level in the near future but at least NZ has something to discuss.....
Jaeger
Roar Rookie
Same way as it has always been done. Revenue from broadcast, sponsorship, gate takings and the like. Salary cap would be higher for NRL Super Teams to enable them to pay Super Rugby players. The very best NRL Super players could be topped up to retain them from heading OS. Wasn’t aware of the NRL court challenge, not the case with AFL. That said everyone is grown ups and a mature approach can be taken. Simply ask Super Rugby players of their preferred NRL franchise. This will automatically cover the lions share of players. Have designed things for synergies. Raiders-Brumbies, Storm-Rebels, Broncos/Titans-Reds, Roosters/Manly-Waratahs. A relocation allowance might be needed for Cowboys and Warriors-Western Force. Some players from Rebels, may want to play for Cowboys. The NRL clubs would also want to sync in their existing lists with the Super Rugby players. So a bit of match making needed. Bit of give and take required from both sides. For any left over players where a deal can’t be struck, work the options. If no option presents, the player enters the Shute Shield-Premier Rugby.
Jacko
Guest
What does the population of a country have to do with it? Hows the Chinese and Indian rugby teams going?
Bourkos
Roar Rookie
How does joining with NRL work? A hybrid comp? That will never happen
jacko
Guest
jameswin maybe he does....It is afterall an Aus News Paper
Jacko
Guest
davico perhaps you need to see what Aus fans do to NZ fans. Try opening the other eye as I have experienced it the other way on many many occasions. Perhaps what you should be saying is that all countries have some fans that dont handle themselves very well and leave it at that.
Jacko
Guest
Davico NZ has had a higher return from TV coverage than Aus has and currently has an 400million 5 year deal so its hardly Aus propping NZ up is it!
jacko
Guest
Perth is only 4 hrs behind NZ tho Davico. Having a 5.30 kickoff in Perth would only be 9.30 in NZ.....Hardly a major concern and very suitable for many. Also could play some arvo games as well so i think the timezone is a positive rather than a negative.
Jacko
Guest
Jeagar how do you propose that Aus pay these drafted players? The NZRU top up the contracts of the best players and the RA also do the same for the top Aus players so I cant see how a Aus SR side will be able to match what a NZ SR side plus the NZRU top up will pay. Also the NRL had a draft challanged in court and removed from their comp because it is unenforsable so how long before a player says I aint going where you want me to.
jacko
Guest
I just love how people keep saying that SR in its current format is dead.....I guess thats why its already a different format for next year.