How many Australians cared about Scott Robertson breakdancing after the Crusaders won? Not many. If any.
The fact of the matter is Super Rugby Pacific was designed by New Zealand for New Zealand.
The Kiwis are the revenue winners. Australia are the revenue losers. New Zealand are Super Rugby Champs. Again. Australia on the improve, but still losing to little cuzzy bro. Kiwis are a big Super Rugby Pacific audience. A large potential Australian sporting audience continues to remain uninspired.
It doesn’t have to be this way.
If New Zealand and Rugby Australia came together in a spirit of good faith and a dogged determination to genuinely take on the Australian sporting marketplace, like a Richie McCaw All Black outfit, look out.
Richie McCaw lifts the 2011 Rugby World Cup. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
There is a way to grow the trans-Tasman rugby revenue pie. But it will require New Zealand giving a little. In doing so, they stand to gain a lot.
What I’m about to suggest would be a five-year trial. If it doesn’t work, things resort back to current situation. But if it does work? Oh boy!
I know rugby is like a religion in New Zealand, so first one might be a tough pill to swallow…
Add Australian geographical names to the front of some monikers.
The Northern Sydney Hurricanes play games now in both Northern Sydney (or larger ground) and Wellington. The Melbourne Highlanders play in both Melbourne and Otago. The Gold Coast Chiefs play in both Waikato and Gold Coast.
The Auckland Blues and Canterbury Crusaders would be left untouched, as would Moana Pacifika.
Australia has some work to do. Western Force would combine forces (pardon the pun) with Japan, playing out of Perth.
Australia would then be left with a concentration of talent across Brisbane, Sydney and the ACT, which has always been the formula for a strong Wallabies backbone. Just the challenge the All Blacks across the ditch.
In terms of players, the Kiwi franchises would have mostly local talent, but get first pick of five local players from each of North Sydney, Victoria and the Gold Coast. Without Aussies in New Zealand teams, the whole concept is disingenuous.
Western Force would poach international talent and Western Australian locals. The rest of Australia’s players would be placed in a concentrated east-coast pool of talent for selection by Brisbane, Sydney and ACT, with preferred home-city selections.
So nothing much changes for the Kiwis – you bring a few Aussies into your squad, use an Aussie geographic name, but keep the standing moniker.
Fixtures can be setup so there are no losses.
As for money, it really simple: don’t be greedy. Create a win-win revenue stream for Australia, New Zealand, Pacific teams and Argentina.
Super Rugby Pacific 2024
1. Auckland Blues
2. Canterbury Crusaders
3. Moana Pacifika
4. Fiji Drua
5. Brisbane
6. Gold Coast (Chiefs)
7. Northern Sydney (Hurricanes)
8. Southern Sydney
9. ACT Brumbies
10. Melbourne (Highlanders)
11. Western Force (linked with Japan and international talent)
12. Adelaide / Central Coast / Newcastle / Western Sydney (Jaguares – Argentina)
The 12th Australian-located team would field the Jaguares from Argentina. This time only a handful of games would be played back in Argentina, with five Australians in the squad.
The prremise is think global, but this time stay local!
By targeting eight Australian locations with combined New Zealand, Argentina and Aussie talent, how much more valuable is this broadcast deal? $10 million? $50 million? $100 million? What would be the Australian viewership projections in coming years?
Dionysus
Guest
From an Australian Rugby point of view, I can see why this might be attractive but from a Kiwi perspective it could be a disaster. Firstly I am a firm believer in the adage "If it ain't broke then don't fix it" NZ Rugby is not broken. They have things they need to fix sure but they are in a very different place to Australia. This plan looks very much like a plan to fix RA by breaking NZR and I don't think the Kiwis will stand for that.
Jaeger
Roar Rookie
I'll pay that one MadKiwi.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
CB.. I have just posted on the article about Kearns. I have just given my honest view.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Too right! CB.. They wouldn’t know what hit them, especially when the toilet pipes freeze up.
max power
Guest
yeah, what a grat place, you guys can keep that hole
Colvin Brown
Roar Guru
The Aussie boys won't be too impressed with with the southerlies right off the South Pole MK.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
:thumbup: :thumbup: exactly right Bobby, he has no idea. The NZ SR teams would block the deal even before NZRU even got involved.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
All you alluring to is for NZ to pay Australia for a bigger piece of the pie, while also wanting NZ to improve Aussie players. As a Crusaders supporter I say whatever, have RA up about improving the game and NZ has no reason to waste money of a worthless concept.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Have you heard of google? Obviously not as then you would have some understanding before making assumptions.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
You are talking about RA, fixed that for you.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
:laughing: Imagine the Aussies playing in Invercargill fiwiboy. :laughing: :laughing:
fiwiboy7042
Roar Rookie
No, Aust can't have the Ranfurly! :stoked: :stoked:
Andy J
Roar Rookie
Simpler solution for both, go to Japan cap in hand and polity ask to join the Japanese top league, maybe not all would make league one and some would be relegated to league two, plenty of good teams plenty of corporate dollars and increased audience numbers
Tim J
Roar Rookie
But it is moaman, I go to the church of Crusaders every Sunday :laughing: that is for morning service, night service I go to the church of the ABs. No wonder the game is played in Heaven.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
Paulo, it’s funny how overseas people think that they know more about NZ than us Kiwis do. Does he even know that the Haka was used by opposition tribes? Nope! His statement asking why the Haka is sacred says it all about his ignorance.
Wigeye
Guest
Thats a big 10 4
Paulo
Roar Rookie
“Why is Hakka (sic) so sacred then?” Haka? I’m not sure what connection you’re trying to make. Rugby isn’t a religion. And Haka is a part of Māori and hence NZ culture. Is Rugby a religion in Aus because the Welcome to Country is performed beforehand?
WEST
Roar Guru
Interesting.. I said something similar awhile ago. But it was combining Aussies into kiwi teams, vice versa just so Australian players can be involved with more kiwi players and coaches to help improve their general standard of rugby. Wasn’t just at SR also involved with NZ domestic competition. The Bunnings Warehouse NPC with all 14 Provincial Unions to compete for one National Provincial Championship title.. Aussies get in the mix too. Have some games in Australia as well. It might attract more tv viewers.. But the main focus is to develop Australian Rugby
RayinSydney
Roar Rookie
You get points for two things, 1, getting off your chuff and publishing an article. 2, getting a Scribe reference in there.
RayinSydney
Roar Rookie
I'm a Hurricane's fan right from game one of Super Rugby and i see absolutely no sense in any players from Northern NSW being part of the franchise, if Northern NSW was such a great catchment area then the Tahs would be full of players from there right now and for the past however many years. I'd confidently say that any Canes fan would agree.