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Rugby Australia believes New Zealand Rugby wants to blow up SANZAAR as a way of wrestling back the power and controlling its trans-Tasman partner, The Roar understands.
Six months after outgoing RA CEO Andy Marinos celebrated “the dawn of a new era”, the power struggle between the two rugby heavyweights once again reared its head on Thursday.
It came as a NZ Herald report claimed RA was considering reneging on some of the details agreed upon in their Super Rugby Pacific competition.
The report said that RA, led by chair Hamish McLennan, was turning its back on a new independent Super Rugby commission, which was designed to “drive commercial revenue, oversee rules and regulations, shape the future strategic direction and generate fan-first initiatives”.
Crucially, however, it would leave “major matters” like broadcast deals, eligibility laws, the number of teams and the format of the competition to the national unions.
Happier times: trans-Tasman leaders in rugby are locking horns on the detail of Super Rugby Pacific’s independent commission. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
By doing so, the new independent board would take the day-to-day running out of the hands of SANZAAR – the Sydney-based administrative company owned, funded and governed by the national unions of New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Argentina – that has overseen the competition since its inception.
In a strongly worded report, it also said the NZR was beginning to feel a sense of “betrayal” that no independent commission or board was in operation yet and added that the Southern Hemisphere’s showpiece club competition was “shrouded in doubt” as a result and, therefore, they were considering legal action against their partners.
“New Zealand Rugby and our clubs’ position is that we see benefit in having a more dedicated, focused Super Rugby in the shape of a commission with dedicated resource around governance and management model that might have more a singular focus and bring fresh perspective to some of the challenges we have historically seen in the competition,” NZR CEO Mark Robinson told NZ Herald.
“We continue to work in partnership with Rugby Australia to work through these matters.”
Rugby Australia CEO Andy Marinos (L) and New Zealand Rugby CEO Mark Robinson (R) shake hands at the MCA on December 02, 2022 in Sydney after reaching an agreement to continue Super Rugby through until 2030. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
McLennan, however, attempted to hose down fears Super Rugby Pacific was imploding.
“I don’t think we’re that far off. We love NZR,” McLennan told The Roar.
Interestingly, the report came as NZR and RA prepared to sit down, with the respective unions meeting on Thursday to try and resolve the differences.
It’s understood RA is willing to go ahead with the commission but first wants to discuss how it will be implemented, what it will look like, and who goes in.
Yet, multiple sources have told The Roar that RA is hesitant to rush through another board for a couple of reasons.
First, there’s a widely held belief that it will involve more bureaucracy when there are already multiple boards involved.
In addition, Super Rugby Pacific is already ushering through innovations from law changes to the additions of new franchises, including the Fiji Drua and Moana Pasifika, to more aligned marketing such as the same graphics being broadcast across Sky and Stan.
The RA board believes another board would simply lead to duplication and another added cost.
Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan with Wallabies coach Eddie Jones. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
It comes at a time when RA is moving closer to its own private equity deal, where fan engagement – one of the issues NZR wants to address – is likely to be one of the areas it looks at.
Some, including rugby figures on the other side of the ditch, sympathise with McLennan’s position.
Second, there is still deep-seated scepticism around NZR’s motivations, after former chairman Brent Impey previously blew up Super Rugby by farewelling South Africa on a whim and asking only two to three Australian franchises to join their competition in 2020.
Indeed, it’s felt by some powerbrokers that the NZR, who are trying to win back support from their own stakeholders after a messy couple of years, are trying to take control of SANZAAR by stealth by moving away from the governing body.
It’s felt if NZR helps take the power away from SANZAAR, it could leave Australia’s five-franchise model exposed.
RA is taking a long-term view with its five franchises and is adamant it will not go down the path they previously did by culling a franchise in 2017.
McLennan made a commitment to Andrew Forrest, who kept the Force financially viable during their years sidelined by RA, that they would go forward with their five-franchise model.
The fact that overseas-based Australians, including Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Harry Potter, are wanting to return home, while very few others are leaving the country, is giving RA greater confidence they are on the right track.
Lukhan Salakaia-Loto is coming back to Australian rugby. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
At the same time, NZR is losing lots of its best talent offshore, with several first-choice All Blacks stars heading overseas following the World Cup.
Nonetheless, Crusaders CEO Colin Mansbridge said it was vital that Super Rugby had someone trumpeting the competition without a competing interest from either national union.
“There’s a little frustration and concern about what this is doing to the Super Rugby brand,” Mansbridge told The Roar.
“I think the competition needs its voice.
“We’re frustrated that we still haven’t got a spokesperson and a leader of the competition in place, and we’re still frustrated that we’re dealing with matters that were agreed some time ago.”
It’s expected that a Super Rugby board will be in place by September.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.