In recent months there has been a lot of commentary around the future of SANZAAR.
With the high amount of travel needed by teams under the current systems and different time zones between the regions, the rugby competitions run by SANZAAR and their respective countries needs to be changed to ensure cost structures in each country are streamlined, as well as ensuring the growth of the sport and revenue streams within the regions.
The competitions that need to be changed are Super Rugby, The Rugby Championship and each country’s own club competitions.
Super Rugby
Given the reduced popularity of the competition in crowd numbers and also TV viewership, it’s clear there needs to be a substantial change to the competition. The common thought among the rugby journalists is that South African and Argentina should be set adrift.
But given the TV money and competitive teams that both provide, I believe it would be a mistake to drop them from the SANZAAR competitions. The prospect of SA joining Europe is also not an ideal situation as although the time zones are the same, the distance to European cities is long and will incur significant travel time.
Looking long-term, as the sport continues to grow in both southern African and American nations, the sponsorship dollars and TV deals will increase and SANZAAR should want to benefit from that. Also, European competitions should remain in their own regions as they have plenty of their own opportunities, specifically with the sport growing rapidly in countries such as Georgia, Germany, Romania, Belgium, Spain and Portugal.
I propose that Super Rugby be made up of four regions with their domestic completions being run in the first stage to decide the teams that move into the final series. The four domestic competitions would be the following:
South Africa/South America: Eight teams including seven teams from SA (six current teams and one expansion) and one from Argentina. Into the future as the sport grows, South America can have its own domestic competition within Super Rugby.
I note that from next year a fully professional competition in South America is beginning with teams from Brazil, Uruguay, Chile, Colombia and Argentina participating. That could be the start of their own region gaining entry into Super Rugby.
(Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
NZ/Pacific: Eight teams including five super rugby teams, two expansion New Zealand teams (Hawkes Bay and North Auckland) and a Pacific Island team based in Fiji.
Japan: Top 12 teams based on the newly formed professional competition.
Australia/Asia: Eight teams including the five from Australia and the three from Asia that were previously included in Global Rapid rugby (Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore). This provides the growth into Asia that the IRB have been after. Initially this domestic competition may start with less Asian based teams and be included in the NZ/Pacific domestic competition to ensure the Asia-based teams have strong squads when they first enter the Australia/Asia domestic competition.
Each domestic competition has at least 14 games, home and away (with the exception of Japan given they have a 12-team competition). The top team in each competition qualifies for the Super Rugby championship final series.
The second and third-placed teams in each domestic competition have a play-off with the other regions to decide the final four spots in the finals. This ensures that each of the domestic competition has a team in the finals but also ensures the stronger regions can potentially get up to three teams in the finals.
The competition would run from late February to June, enabling northern hemisphere teams to tour in July. Further into the future, a Super Rugby challenge final series (similar to Europe with their Champions competition and Challenge competition) could be established to enable the teams ranked 2-4 in their domestic competitions to play in a final series.
Again, similar to Europe, the winner of each competition could play each other to kick start the following year’s season to grow interest and popularity of the sport.
The Rugby Championship
This competition desperately needs some much-needed changing, with some questionable decisions in the scheduling and ordering of games. Currently rather than have each team play each other once each before going into the second round of games, Australia plays New Zealand twice in the first two weeks, effectively ruling the Wallabies out of the competition after only two games and significantly reducing the interest in the series.
Both Japan and Fiji should be included given the continued growth of the sport within the countries, especially with Fiji having its own Super Rugby team in the New Zealand region enabling their players to live in their own country and play professionally rather than having to play in Europe or NZ.
This would also increase the revenue streams for SANZAAR, opening up the lucrative Japanese market.
In the rugby championship, each team would play each other just once enabling a fair winner in the end and less but more meaningful games. To capitalise on profits for the countries, SANZAAR could consider playing a final between the top two teams. The competition would run in August and September, just after the northern hemisphere nations tour.
Domestic rugby
To enable the development of the game within each country post-Super Rugby, each region would run their respective club completions including:
Australia: Two divisions of ten teams each, with promotion/relegation of the clubs from the Sydney and Brisbane competitions, as well a team from each region of Canberra, Melbourne and Perth.
NZ: Mitre 10 Cup including Pacific nations.
South Africa: Currie Cup.
Argentina: Copa Sudamericana.
Players who are not selected in their national teams would play in these competitions to raise the interest in the games. These competitions would run from July to October each year.
The future
Looking further into the crystal ball, as well as separating the South America region from South Africa to create its own Super Rugby domestic competition, North America could also be added (once its standard is raised to the level required) as it already has its own professional competition (MLR).
(Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The key to all this further expansion and popularity growth of the sport is ensuring the revenue streams within SANZAAR grow and the cost structures are streamlined within each country. This will be significantly helped with the reduction of travel by the teams, larger crowds and TV audiences from the local derby games in the domestic competitions, and the inclusion of Asian and Japanese teams.
Further down the track I hope the IRB then re-look at introducing a global season, a promotion/relegation system within the Six Nations and Rugby Championship, and more games and tours between first-tier and second-tier nations.
The future of rugby can be bright, it just needs some of the leaders within SANZAAR and northern hemisphere nations to make smart decisions for the betterment of the global game.
Jules Parkinson
Guest
Building a local/Regional comp is the best way go...grow the weakest team/clubs with eager bevers... have an even number of teams...the biggest money is kids/teenagers that push the mums/dads spend...think and Act big on this one???...too much general cash/war chest funds are wasted on nothing
I know that is what the broadcasters would want, and most likely the Unions and the fans. I would prefer the same format as the RCk but either way will work.
jcmasher
Roar Rookie
I agree it would definitely be a better gateway for them. I just don’t see how they could fund it
Charging Rhino
Roar Guru
So pretty much what SARU was fighting for in the 2009 Super Rugby negotiations? SARU compromised. They were well ahead of the curve 11 years ago, and history is proving them to be correct. O'Neil wanted a longer Australian season.
Charging Rhino
Roar Guru
Hi Clyde, Firstly apologies for my typo's above, I was on an iPhone where it's easy to mistype words. I am not here to fight with you, but I see it differently. No, I'm not confusing the Griquas union to a region, and I am well aware that the Griquas were part of the Cheetahs franchise, in the same way that the Eastern Cape was part of the "Coastal Sharks" franchise, where the Sharks used to play some games in PE, more specifically in the earlier Super Rugby days. I am arguing the attitude of entitlement vs merit-based. My stance, in all aspects of life including sport, is that equality is "equality of opportunity", not "equality of outcome". You're arguing entitlement, i.e. because the Kings represent a certain area, they deserve to be in an elite international competition. What I am saying is, the Kings have had the opportunity, and still have it, so go ahead and earn it, prove it. And a start would be to perform at Currie Cup Premier level. The Eastern Cape has had equal opportunity, as the other rugby regions and unions in South Africa have had, to build a good performing team. Durban and Cape town are similar sized cities, yet in the early 1980's, Natal were relegated to the B division of the Currie Cup. Natal rugby then implemented solid systems and structures and built a good team where their performances spoke for themselves, fighting their way back to the Currie Cup Premier division and winning it in 1990, and they've never looked back. It went the opposite way for Eastern Cape rugby where as a boy I recall them being whipped in the early 90's in the Currie Cup, and sadly it has stayed that way. I would love for EP rugby to be an equal force with the Bulls, Stormers, Lions and Sharks. It's good for South African rugby and competition, and for the Springboks. But they need to build it and earn it, and have had plenty of support and help to do this, and yet they have failed. And they are still failing in the Pro 14. That's the simple truth. My above explanation answers your questions "Why should a region the size of the Kings be excluded from international rugby, and why should they have to qualify or prove themselves worthy to be part of an international competition." What you are asking for is "entitlement". Equality is not an entitlement. As in English Premiership rugby or football, perform and you will be recognised and heartedly embraced. Back to Sanzaar, in 2009 SARU compromised the length of the tournament, and it cost them and the other partners. They can't make the same mistake in the future, and history is proving that what they were seeking in 2009 out of Sanzaar was correct. Have a good day bud.
Old Bugger
Guest
I never really saw myself suggesting this but now that an external circumstance (i.e. pandemic effect) has forced national unions globally, their participants and fans against the wall, then it seems rightly so now to say, let each union "go it alone". From what I've read about NZR's potential, it appears they're not in any hurry to consider a "lone wolf" stance however, it hasn't stopped them, from thinking about it. Suggestions of NZR seeking out private sponsorship and potential share-holding in NZR haven't quite rattled the richter scale but according to Brett Impey (NZR chair), it is a subject where the door, will remain open. Further suggestions of an 8-team localised competition with potential to expand into the PI's, is also open to further discussion. IMO, the NZR internal reviews that have been initiated, will discuss all options available including that which could lend itself toward NZR's withdrawal from WR if and when, Beaumont's promises to revamp a multitude of concerns within the WR framework, are or are not executed. It is no secret that NZR wanted changes within WR's framework with support for Pichot and the vote was certainly very close that all it required, was one of the 6N unions to back Pichot and, he would've won. I don't know if Fiji and Samoa's vote would've made a difference but it certainly had Beaumont's 2IC's footprint, stamped all over their eventual decisions. Funny that, because there were suggestions it was NZR/RA's failure to acknowledge these unions with matches, that caused them to vote with Beaumont. That's fine.....what goes around, comes around. Nevertheless, the ball is now certainly in WR's and Beaumont's court - failure to provide what was promised, will certainly lead to some major global changes, after the next RWC. And as I suggested earlier, I'd have no worries whatsoever if those changes led unions like NZR, to go it alone not only with its own competitions but also, with its own administrative framework. If that were to happen, it would then be up to whichever other union, is prepared to join them to share an international stage but retain, their own national presence.
DAVEC
Roar Rookie
i think there should be a rugby championship but 2 groups of super rugby a group made up of NZ Australia and japan and the pacific and another group of south Africa Argentina Canada and the USA with there super rugby and a game between the winners
Malotru
Roar Rookie
How about first plays fourth in one semi-final (home advantage to first), second plays third in the other (home advantage to second) and the final is held at a neutral venue.
Malotru
Roar Rookie
But who's going to broadcast it Hoolifan, and if broadcast what will the viewer ratings be? A domestic comp based around Sydney is hardly going to broaden the popularity of Rugby and most games would be friends and relatives watching with a sprinkling of diehards. Nothing wrong with SR that can't be fixed.
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
Well, it all depends on what kind of money is on offer (for both SA and the current 6N-members) if they would/could join. With CVC now having ownership in P14, Premiership, and 6N (and lots of rumors that they are in deep talks with SARU too), they will be the driver for this to happen.
I am for ring fencing the Super Rugby competition to SA, oZ and NZ, purely from the perspective of retaining high quality, test match atmosphere intensity and a very short version of it. When you add more countries the competition grows exponentially into something similar to what we have now.
I think how each country arrives at theirthree teams for Super Rugby should be up to them, whether they represent the actual top three teams of their domestic comp, or condensed into three regional teams or beit they draft their top players into the three teams. Each of these options have advantages and disadvantages, but that is for each union to decide.
AndyS
Guest
Any comp consisting of the top teams from the underlying comps, will be at the respective standard of the underlying comps. The only way they can be "almost test quality" would be by condensing the talent into 2/3 new rep teams, or by concentrating all the talent into just two or three teams. If the latter, then the domestic comp will become a joke and most of the domestic supporters will switch off for the subsequent comp.
Hoolifan
Guest
Love the Super Rugby defenders. Keep whipping that dead horse. The very definition of madness is attempting the same thing and expecting a different result. To the sane out there, it is time to move on. Domestic competition with minimal travel centred around Sydney.
Joe King
Roar Rookie
I agree that S12 was good, but Australia were always going to push for more teams because of their insatiable desire for more of a domestic presence. That won't stop until that desire is met. The champions league idea/finals series could solve that.
Joe King
Roar Rookie
Or even just the top two teams from each domestic comp/conference...
Joe King
Roar Rookie
I dare say Oz fans would be happy playing SA if it wasn't a season long competition. It's nothing personal, it just doesn't work logistically for what Oz fans are looking for in a competition. But if it was just a champions league or finals series, that would be ok. The main thing for Oz fans is having that domestic presence and consistent time-slots.
Joe King
Roar Rookie
All fans from all countries should expect their national unions to do what's best for them. And all do. But no one is making any demands of other countries, just expressing their desires.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
For those thinking South Africa must go North... Dream on.. Ain't gonna happen.. Why must the NH countries embrace SA when it can screw them royaly...
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
We're it not for us Corne' there would never have been Superugby... The problem was perpetual expansion at the expense of the best against the best...