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Moana Pasifika and Fiji teams inch closer to Super Rugby inclusion following NZR's 'game changer' decision
Super Rugby could finally have Pacific Island representation by next year after New Zealand Rugby [NZR] agreed to a “game changer” broadcast revenue sharing agreement with two of the competition’s prospective franchises.
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According to a report from Stuff, NZR will split its broadcast revenue with Moana Pasifika and a Fijian team – expected to be the Fijian Drua, which previously competed in Australia’s now-defunct National Rugby Championship – upon their inclusion in the competition in 2022.
Joining a 12-team Super Rugby competition and playing alongside the 10 existing New Zealand and Australian franchises would be significant for Pacific Island rugby, especially after years of false hope since Super Rugby’s inception in 1996.
Pacific Rugby Players [PRP] chief executive Aayden Clarke told Stuff on Tuesday that, while more work needs to be done before the final sign-off is given, he has “never been more confident” of Pacific Island inclusion in Super Rugby following NZR’s decision to share its broadcast revenue.
“It’s a game changer from the other times Pacific Island teams have tried [to get a Super Rugby licence],” Clarke said.
“That detail is yet to be determined and it’s being worked through right at this very point about what that could look like.
“But the good news is that, yes, they will get a cut.
“Unlike other times, NZ Rugby need this to happen. The competition needs change. It needs diversity.
“Both of these teams are going to bring a hell of a lot to the table when it comes to public interest and fan base. So, there has been a different outlook from NZ Rugby.”
Last month, the Fiji Rugby Union announced it was seeking up to $10 million of private capital and will offer majority ownership of its franchise in 2022.
Clarke told Stuff that Moana Pasifika were in the market for a similar figure so that NZR is satisfied both they and the Fijian side have solid financial backing.
He added that the advent of COVID-19 in Europe has left many Pasifika players based in the Northern Hemisphere open to the prospect of plying their trade in Super Rugby.
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Starting French language lessons have made it tough for Brandon Paenga-Amosa not to focus on his impending Australian rugby departure.https://t.co/b7YomGFB5s
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However, Clarke warned both of the new entities would need to dip into the recruitment market soon, although they would be need Super Rugby licences to do so, something he said would be attainable by “mid-April”.
“These teams need to get into the recruitment space pretty quickly,” Clarke said.
“I know that a few conversations have already been had but if you’re serious about it you need the licence.
“And I’ve said to both organisations [NZ Rugby and the new franchises] they’ve got the perfect storm for recruitment at the moment.
“Two years ago it was going to cost them a lot of money to entice players out of Europe and Japan but at the moment we’ve got shrinking salary caps up north and players who have been stuck in lockdown.
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“So, families are wanting to move. The opportunity is possibly a little bit cheaper than it used to be.”
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Comments on RugbyPass
We had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getitng to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
7 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
7 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
57 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
57 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
7 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
57 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
57 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
57 Go to comments