Confirmed - 'Exciting' Kiwi-only competition is imminent
New Zealand Rugby are working on a domestic competition featuring the five Kiwi Super Rugby teams as a replacement for Super Rugby this year.
According to Patrick McKendry in the New Zealand Herald, there is a willingness among NZ Rugby and players involved to quickly look at an alternative after Super Rugby, which also features teams from Australia, South Africa, Argentina and Japan, suspended for the next two weeks and is likely to be cancelled this year due to the travel restrictions put in place to contain the global coronavirus.
Mako and Billy Vunipola reportedly in talks with several Super Rugby clubs
Sky TV, which has seen its share price drop rapidly over the past week or so, is also understood to be extremely keen to broadcast live rugby content and the prospect of the five Kiwi teams playing each other in full-blooded derbies, albeit possibly behind closed doors, is likely to also interest sport-starved rugby fans around the world.
With the Highlanders having returned on Tuesday from their cancelled game against the Jaguares in Buenos Aires – and facing a fortnight of self-isolation in accordance with the New Zealand government’s protocols brought over the weekend – any competition won’t start for two weeks at least.
But it is likely to be run over ten to twelve weeks and has been given the all-clear by Sanzaar chief executive Andy Marinos.
On same day New Zealand Rugby announced that all club rugby had been suspended until April 18 at the earliest, chief executive Mark Robinson, who has been in the job for four months, all but confirmed the imminent start of a Super Rugby replacement competition on Sky TV’s Breakdown programme.
He said his organisation’s priority was ensuring public safety, “but now our attention has shifted to how we make the best of this situation”.
“We’re quite excited about what we’re starting to develop with our Super clubs and Sky obviously heavily involved… this is a process which is quite complex and detailed,” Robinson said.
“We’d like to think by the end of the week we’d be in a position to share more detail. But it’s obvious it will be around a domestic-shaped competition and we’ve got around ten to twelve weeks to provide some rugby product for our fans.”
Robinson added some Kiwi teams had opted to take the week off but he was in constant dialogue with them. “We know people are going to be interested because there are a lot of restrictions around what people can do at the moment. We’re very mindful of what our fans want at the moment. This is a fresh opportunity and we’ve got to take it and make something exciting out of it.”
“If making money is the only yardstick, the only measurement these guys have got, then we might as well give up playing rugby as Pacific Islanders" @danleo82 talks frankly with @heagneyl ???? about the future of PI rugby.https://t.co/pk3CCiwLo9
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 8, 2020
Former All Blacks full-back-turned-Sky commentator Mils Muliaina said: “How good would that be? Obviously, I’m being optimistic and there is a two-week (break), but what would that look like (in terms of) a regional competition? The challenge is for other countries. We have five good teams here, but the challenge is for Australia and South Africa.”
Robinson said at this stage the visits of Wales and Scotland for three Tests against the All Blacks in July were still going ahead. “At the moment we’re working on a basis that the Welsh tests are being planned for,” he said.
“There have been no discussions with Wales or anyone else for that matter that they won’t be going ahead but we all know we’re in a dynamic and rapidly changing environment.”
New Zealand Rugby Players' Association boss Rob Nichol hasn't eliminated the prospect of pay cuts as Super Rugby remains shut down. #SuperRugby #coronavirus https://t.co/ABD6RPlLsG
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 17, 2020
He said the players’ association were being fully involved in all discussions. Asked whether the players may be willing to take a pay cut, Robinson said: “It’s premature to go into the detail of what those discussions might look like.”
Robinson added of the importance to rugby to start again in New Zealand: “The key thing about rugby is that it can bring people together, it can inspire them, it can give them a release and provide fun and excitement.”
WATCH: Six Of The Best New Zealand vs Australia matches
Comments on RugbyPass
100% agree with your comment about Touch. I’ve been playing it competitively since Covid. It’s on a Wednesday night after work. It means the weekend is free for time with my family.
1 Go to commentsRodda back is massively important for the Wallabies. Kaitu at hooker important too coz he was very good a few years ago.
1 Go to commentsThe pink cabous might be eligible this year and the Boks don’t need him
7 Go to commentsNasser and kaitu are options for hooker. Especially Nasser. You forgot Rodda who touch wood will be fit at test time and if fit he’s number one. Great partner for the great Skelton and Oz best lineout caller. Third best lock is LSL whom I’d be inclined to sub on for Skelton around 60 minutes. Probably start valetini at 8 because I like a big body back there. Cale should play 6 at the brumbies. For Wallabies definitely cale in the squad but as an apprentice. Dunno who starts at 6 seru wright Swinton hanigan with Will Harris and Harry Wilson not far away. Seru and Swinton my front runners but Swinton is going. Still if we don’t cap seru then Fiji must coz they need his lineout skills and easily compensate for his lack of weight
7 Go to commentsYeah but who was it?
8 Go to commentsThink you might have written this just before the Brumbies got thrashed last weekend
7 Go to commentsI really do believe that Billy Proctor should be selected at least in the larger squad but also it would be my choice at 13, much more a center than Ioane who can still play at wing. Roigard if fit should play, otherwise it should be Perenara or Christie. Also, Iose could deserve a spot at blindside. Of course, being a Canes supporter I’m biased but I really believe that at least Billy P is deserving a chance and being Holland one of the Selectors, I’m having a little hope he could grab it.
12 Go to commentsI would not play Swinton I’d pick Wright or Hanigan. The rest are decent starters, but can’t agree on any subs except Tupou. My take on the subs: Gibbon, Ueslese, Tupou, LSL, Wilson, White, Will Harrison, and Petaia.
7 Go to commentsSBW the biggest moron to pull on a black jersey a park footy player at best
8 Go to commentsSBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
8 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
12 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
12 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
7 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
8 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
12 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
12 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
7 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
7 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
12 Go to comments