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Les Jaguares en pourparlers pour revenir dans le Super Rugby
La disparition prochaine des Melbourne Rebels pourrait ouvrir la voie à un retour des Jaguares, franchise de Super Rugby basée à Buenos Aires.
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Et la roue pourrait tourner assez rapidement, ou du moins plus rapidement que ce à quoi s’attendait le président d’Argentina Rugby, Gabriel Travelaglini, lorsqu’il confiait, en septembre dernier, avoir reçu une invitation pour le retour de l’équipe, mais pas avant 2026.
Les difficultés financières du club de Melbourne ayant conduit à une mise sous tutelle à la fin du mois de janvier, les têtes pensantes du Super Rugby ont commencé à explorer des solutions potentielles pour que la compétition conserve son format à 12 équipes.
C’est dans ce contexte que l’expansion ou la réexpansion vers les Amériques ou le Japon a été évoquée comme l’une de ces solutions.
Nouvelle configuration en 2026
Mark Robinson, directeur général de New Zealand Rugby, l’a évoquée au cours des premières étapes de 2024, d’autres idées incluant une fusion entre Moana Pasifika et les Rebels, et elle semble avoir été bien accueillie par l’UAR.
« Nous avons reçu l’invitation, mais ce serait à partir de 2026 parce qu’ils ont déjà fermé l’actuel », avait confirmé Gabriel Travelaglini en septembre, faisant référence à l’accord sur les droits médiatiques de la compétition.
« Il est prévu de créer une franchise. Nous avons l’engagement qu’ils nous recevront et que nous jouerons des matchs à domicile et à l’extérieur. »
Mark Robinson a fait le point sur la situation cette semaine dans le podcast Rugby Direct.
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« La plupart des travaux sur la configuration future de la compétition en termes de nombre d’équipes et de formats se concentrent sur 2026 et le prochain cycle de droits médiatiques », a-t-il expliqué.
Intérêt de l’Amérique du Nord et du Japon
« Manifestement, les difficultés auxquelles les Rebels sont confrontés ont conduit à accélérer certaines de ces discussions. Nous n’avons pas une certitude absolue quant à ce que l’avenir leur réserve, mais il est clairement remis en question à l’heure actuelle.
« Il est trop tôt pour dire quel sera le nombre d’équipes. Nous devons savoir exactement où en sont les Rebels et travailler ensuite sur le reste de l’année.
« De nombreuses discussions sont en cours concernant l’intérêt potentiel de l’Amérique du Sud, de l’Amérique du Nord et du Japon, mais nous avons besoin de davantage de détails avant de pouvoir approfondir. »
La côte ouest des Etats-Unis a été mentionnée comme un lieu potentiel d’implantation du club, de même que Hawaï.
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Ces changements potentiels interviennent à un moment où la marque Super Rugby a enfin trouvé une certaine cohérence dans la structure de ses compétitions.
L’ère du Super Rugby Pacific a digéré la perte de l’Afrique du Sud et a placé la compétition sur une nouvelle trajectoire, loin des turbulences de la structure et des visages en perpétuel changement de la dernière décennie.
Mark Robinson a estimé que toutes les expérimentations précédentes – y compris le précédent passage des Jaguares dans la compétition de 2016 à 2019 – leur avaient permis de tirer des leçons précieuses et de cadrer la façon dont les décisions seraient prises désormais.
Super Rugby Pacific
P
W
L
D
PF
PA
PD
BP T
BP-7
BP
Total
1
Hurricanes
1
1
0
0
5
2
Brumbies
1
1
0
0
5
3
Blues
1
1
0
0
5
4
Reds
1
1
0
0
5
5
Highlanders
1
1
0
0
5
6
Chiefs
1
1
0
0
4
7
Crusaders
1
0
1
0
1
8
Moana Pasifika
1
0
1
0
0
9
Waratahs
1
0
1
0
0
10
Fijian Drua
1
0
1
0
0
11
Rebels
1
0
1
0
0
12
Force
1
0
1
0
0
Comments on RugbyPass
It’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
22 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
11 Go to commentsThe article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
22 Go to commentsI guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
45 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
4 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
45 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
45 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
4 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
7 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
2 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
7 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to comments