Super Rugby as fans know it is almost certainly over, after the South African Rugby Union (SARU) voted at a special general meeting to send their top four franchise sides to Europe’s Pro Rugby instead of the southern hemisphere competition.
Two South African teams, the Cheetahs and Kings, currently ply their trade in Pro14, which is also made up of teams from Ireland, Wales, Scotland and Italy. However, if negotiations between the European competition and SARU are successful, the duo will be replaced by the four current Super Rugby sides – the Bulls, Lions, Stormers and Sharks – and the competition will morph into the Pro16.
While SANZAAR nations had committed to a 14-team Super Rugby competition until 2025, with New Zealand and Australia both shifting towards either local or a trans-Tasman competition, SARU CEO Jurie Roux said his organisation now had little choice but to pursue a future for their four main franchises in Europe.
A SARU media release read as follows:
“The meeting and options had been presented as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the unilateral decision by the New Zealand Rugby Union to proceed with a domestic or trans-Tasman competition.
“Roux said New Zealand’s decision made it impossible to deliver the 14-team Super Rugby competition that had been agreed by the partners and for which five-year broadcasting agreements had been signed.
‘Our members are excited about the prospect of closer alignment with Pro Rugby Championship and seeking a northern hemisphere future, but we would not have been taking this decision but for actions elsewhere,’ said Roux.”
While earlier reports ahead of the general meeting suggested that, if such a vote eventuated, it would only be for the 2021 season, there is no indication the move is anything but a permanent one, meaning Super Rugby, which has featured teams from South Africa, New Zealand and Australia since its inception in 1996, is over.
For their part, New Zealand Rugby took the news with little surprise.
“SARU has signalled for some time now they were looking at aligning with the Northern Hemisphere season,” CEO Mark Robinson said.
“All of the SANZAAR partners had agreed to look at more domestically related competitions in 2020 and 2021. During times like these change is inevitable and we need to be willing to adapt quickly.”
As SARU president Mark Alexander saying South Africa still remained committed to the SANZAAR partnership, Roux acknowledged they will remain in discussions about a modified, condensed club competition involving the four nations.
“We will advise our SANZAAR partners of the General Meeting’s decision,” Roux said.
“We remain part of the joint venture and will pursue the ‘Super Series’ discussions in good faith.”
The Cheetahs were selected at the general meeting as South Africa’s entrant to any such competition. However South Africa will only participate if “a commercial model was developed to make their entry cost neutral at least, once agreement had been reached with SANZAAR”.
DanFan
Guest
What will the Cape Crusaders fans do now without regular visits from “their” team. There are many ABs fans in SA which go back generations. Something special in the relationship between SA and NZ could be lost forever. And that is sad.
Anibal Pyro
Roar Rookie
Well, we Argies, will keep playing our strong amateur comps, Best players heading north for the money. Some Panamerican pro league to keep at least 40 players as pros. Perhaps winning currie Cup Second division as last year. And for some miracle, playing TRC. Thank you all guys, Saffas, Kiwis and Aussies, Jaguares was a nice ride, reaching one final and gaving the Saders a good run for their money. Who knows, perhaps the Pumas make another surprise as 2007 or 2015 at some world stage, and somebody look this way again. Greetings from Argentina
MW7
Roar Rookie
The game can't appeal to everyone. And making it more like league while the rest of the rugby world doesn't seems pointless to a large extent.
Drew
Roar Rookie
Yes, that's always been my issue. Lack of any real concret facts and just a general sense that it seems true (which like said I think likely holds, I'm just not sure by how much). As I said, Aoteraroa whilst an interesting data point, I don't necessarily think reflects the longterm viability. It was the only live/new Rugby on TV for awhile there with no Premiership, Pro14 etc..etc.. up and running. I'd want to look at the longterm numbers to have a better feel for what the real commercial viability of SR level NZ rugby is in a broader global market context because there is a rather low ceiling if you are relying on just the NZ market.
fiwiboy7042
Roar Rookie
Did they? Or did they SAY that they would be prepared to do that? I don't recall it reported that they had approached the franchises. In any case, one team apparently will take part.
Emery Ambrose
Roar Rookie
Hugely disappointing to lose SA to the north. - Will be interesting to see how they go in the PRO16, is going to get like the later years of super rugby up there. Also they tend to consider European cup games as the pinnacle, which I'm guessing SA wont be in until the next TV rights. - Don't know where the Southern Hemisphere goes now, I don't think NZ wants to sign up a 5 year comp with 5 AU teams incase the AU teams don't deliver, I get the sense NZ is maneuvering around AU to Asia and Pacific. I guess ill get stuck into an Excel spreadsheet on a global season with SA in the north but playing the rugby championship or 7 nations.
Davico
Roar Pro
You do get that they went directly to select Oz franchises to invite them into a new comp, without going through RA right? That is a fact!
Davico
Roar Pro
Take a break Jacko, you are embarrassing yourself. Though not for the first time!
Davico
Roar Pro
You equate procreation with success?? Hahaha have heard it all now!
fiwiboy7042
Roar Rookie
NZ hosts Samoan, Tongan and Fijian test players as well as develop them; players who would normally not get a crack at a Super Rugby side (with exceptions). The Samoan side is full of NZ born and raised players. This gives them a pathway they may normally need to go to Europe to find.
Davico
Roar Pro
What would be the point of having a Pacifica team made up of NZ players?? Kind of defeats in he purpose! That whole idea just seems like trying to profit off the Pasifika idea by NZR!
Republican
Guest
ozinsa, I believe NZ should put their money where their mouth is then, since we have supported them across codes already mentioned, by including NZ entities in our domestic leagues and more. I don't agree that this has benefited respective codes here as you imply, unless you are referring solely to tele dollars and even that is debatable in terms of what benefit tis afforded the grass roots of respective codes. League is struggling at the GR all across the Sydney region, while the NRL clubs continue to recruit Kiwi players in rising number, the Warriors remaining a pseudo addition to our domestic RL competition. The Phoenix are a basket case that has been favoured over domestic options i.e. Canberra, so again, this has compromised any domestic potential in favour of a sovereign nations presence. NZ 'ideas and sponsorship' are a ruse except in the context of Rugby, a game they excel at but of little consequence here. This has little to do with being 'insular' as you state and more to do with nurturing respective codes at home as a priority. The excessive commercial criteria of 'growth' sanctions the blatant expedience of domestic grassroots and historical support of any given code, as well as undermines the status of international contest, especially between NZ and Australia which is a veritable farce these days. If as you say we need to work with NZ, then they must include us in there domestic NPC in the context of Union, rather than maintain what is a glaringly arrogant double standard on their part, don't you think?
Republican
Guest
.......it wouldn't be Union anymore if you did that BB, just a generic version of League. There is little point in compromising Unions DNA to make it more palatable in this country when we already have codes that satisfy and reflect our sporting cultural market and Union clearly isn't one of them and never has been. Those who do support the code here must resign themselves to this fact, engaging with it as a less than niche code, or simply migrate to NZ.
Simoc
Guest
To bad. I doubt SA teams will be missed. But it would be great to get a Fijian (and possibly Tongan teams) involved and giving them first call on their overseas players. If it is about growing the game we can help them. The players get developed here for sure but those teams underperform on the world stage. The Fijian team with their best players should be able to match it with the best teams in the World but never have. In soccer we see minnow nations make the World Cup final and nearly win because their best are playing with the worlds best all the time. Fiji has that capability and does it at 7s but not 15s.
Simoc
Guest
That is true, but England supporters would cheer for 90 minutes watching a game long scrum if their team wins 3-0 from a full-time penalty. And they seem to run the game. But many NRL league games have been outstanding this year and so as the game evolves, the referee controlled union game looks more antiquated. While union should be better viewing, only the All Blacks play a brand of rugby I want to watch.
Simoc
Guest
They need time off from the time the scrum is called to the time it is back in play. Then the challenged forwards can play their silly games until the ref calls a penalty, which seems to happen near half the time. Plus they waste their energy in their own time and are not running down the clock, which often appears to be the goal.
So not playing Aus is not playing anyone????Dumb!!! Typical Aussie...Thinks Aus is the be all and end all ...dumb!
So what are the wallabies then? Orange snow or maybe a big brown nuggarty snow!!!
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
Hard evidence is difficult because Sky TV UK don't release ratings for anything. However I found this article. Obviously this situation is exceptional, but it sounds like the strong Super Rugby Aotearoa audience drifted off during the SRAU. It's only a snapshot and could be for several reasons e.g. more interest in NZ rugby or needing to get on with their Saturday. https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/300062745/super-rugby-aotearoa-hits-tv-peaks-in-key-uk-market-not-seen-for-many-years
WhoDis
Roar Rookie
I honestly prefer watching Aus v Aus games - it beats watching our guys cop a flogging in NZ or worse, go to SA..haven't watched Super Rugby match in SA for about 20 years. To me, future Wallaby teammates facing off against each other at Australian grounds in Australian time slots is far more compelling. I am afraid it won't make commercial sense though..