Report: NZR summit document provides shock option to replace Super Rugby and NPC

The state of New Zealand Rugby’s Men’s domestic competitions is under review at this Thursday’s review summit in Wellington, according to The Post.

Rugby journalist Paul Cully has reported that NZR and its stakeholders will discuss possible changes to Super Rugby Pacific and the Hilux NPC in Wellington.

A supposed three-option NZR document, which was shared with stakeholders and attendees of the national summit this Thursday in Wellington, was named “Men’s Elite Competition Possible Options”.

One of the three proposed options is a new competition to replace Super Rugby Pacific and the NPC with an 8-10 national team competition, Cully reported.

According to the report, the two other possible options for the competitions would be a small expansion of the current Super Rugby Pacific format by two teams, or a continuation of the two competitions as is, but “with five single rugby entities in the main centres of Auckland, Waikato, Wellington, Canterbury and Otago”.

The document, which was revealed to The Post, did not say which two teams could be added, but some New Zealand provincial unions like Tasman, Taranaki, Hawke’s Bay, or Bay of Plenty could emerge as front-runners.

It also states that the 8-10 teams would be run by the provincial unions, receiving player payments ranging from $10m down to $8m.

“NZ Rugby would supply the licences to the provincial unions, with “possible private investment through [a] separate vehicle”.”

These possible moves from New Zealand Rugby would force the organisation to have challenging conversations with Rugby Australia, with a possible shift out of the trans-Tasman Super Rugby Pacific competition.

The new competitions would likely start in the 2028 season, with no change to the current schedule between February and June.

The Post believe that one of the options, which would see New Zealand Rugby add extra teams to the Super Rugby Pacific competition, is largely due to the supposed shock loss of $66 million over the next four years.

One plan, said to be Option C, would essentially fund the logistics of the competition and marketing, while looking after the commercial rights, too.

Under this agreement, both New Zealand Rugby and Rugby Australia would remain in charge of the broadcast details and deal, according to the leaked NZR document.

If the smaller New Zealand-based competition is chosen, the provincial unions and the five Super Rugby Pacific clubs- the Chiefs, Blues, Crusaders, Hurricanes, and Highlanders will be merged. This would remove five high-performance teams in New Zealand from 19 to 14.

According to the detailed report, the proposal would need agreement from Rugby Australia on a range of changes.

Option A, which involves the Super Rugby Pacific franchises forming a centralised “SRP HoldCo” (holds cross-border, pooled team commercial rights, funds logistics, marketing; NZR and RA keep broadcast control), means that both the NPC and Super Rugby competitions wouldn’t technically change, but the minor tweak would be how the franchises are run, with all of the provincial unions helping support the five franchises from below. The clubs would also have the chance to open themselves to private investments, adding to the money pool to pay players.

This option was based on the 2024 Men’s Pathways and Competitions report, which stated that New Zealand Rugby could save $5.75m a year.

All three of the proposed options will be assessed and discussed in detail at this Thursday’s summit in Wellington with all of New Zealand Rugby’s stakeholders.

According to New Zealand Rugby, a final proposal is set to feature in its board meeting later this year.