Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

SANZAAR distance themselves from 'speculation' surrounding major changes to Super Rugby format

The Super Rugby trophy.

SANZAAR have moved to shut down speculation surrounding major changes to the structure of Super Rugby.

ADVERTISEMENT

It has been widely reported that SANZAAR bosses were considering a new Trans-Tasman tournament between the New Zealand and Australian teams, shutting South Africa rugby out of the competition.

Speculation intensified over the weekend, which has resulted in SANZAAR releasing a statement in order to “publicly correct the misleading information” regarding the future of Super Rugby.

However, the statement stopped short of ruling out temporary change to Super Rugby as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Super Rugby is set to ditch the current conference format in favour of a 14-team round robin tournament from next season, but there is still much uncertainty regarding the future of the tournament beyond that.

In a statement, SANZAAR confirmed that broadcasters have already been sold a 14-team Super Rugby cross-border tournament, but admitted changes could be introduced to that format as a result of COVID-19.

SANZAAR also confirmed that the knock-on effect of COVID-19 could result in “a strong domestic focus” when Super Rugby eventually returns.

ADVERTISEMENT

“SANZAAR would like to publicly correct the misleading information and speculation regarding suggestions in various media articles over the weekend about the future structure of SANZAAR and indeed tournament formats for Super Rugby,” a SANZAAR statement read.

“Whilst it is acknowledged that the impact of COVID-19 has presently brought unprecedented change to the world of rugby as we have known it, any changes to the Super Rugby structure this year and into the future are matters that are currently being discussed in detail by all the joint-venture, national union stakeholders: Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

“The stakeholders are all committed to the joint-venture through to 2030 and once consensus is agreed upon by all the stakeholders it will then be communicated by the SANZAAR Board.

“With respect to 2020, it is likely that once the green light is given to commence the playing of rugby matches in the various stakeholder territories, that a revised Super Rugby competition format will be implemented.

ADVERTISEMENT

“In all likelihood, this will mean a strong domestic focus in each territory given the travel, border and government restrictions that we believe we will have to adhere to. SANZAAR will in due course make the appropriate announcements on the restart of rugby matches.

“As to the future competition structures in 2021 and beyond, SANZAAR has already sold to broadcasters a 14-team Super Rugby cross-border tournament format as well as the four-team Rugby Championship, within the stakeholder core markets.

“Again where any changes to these competitions is required, as a consequence of any ongoing affects of the COVID-19 pandemic, these will be decided upon by the SANZAAR board.”

“Having spoken with my SANZAAR Board members I can confirm that none of the suggested models or structures that have been commented on recently, such as stand-alone Trans-Tasman formats, have been agreed by any of the SANZAAR unions individually or collectively,” SANZAAR CEO, Andy Marinos, added.

“All such reports are merely speculative and have no basis to them.”

“This is not to say that we are not having realistic discussions on what may have to eventuate should COVID-19 restrictions continue beyond 2020.

“We are presently looking in detail at various competition formats but any agreed format will include teams from all four stakeholder national unions. Due to uncertainty over what various government restrictions, if any, may look like next year including international travel, no date has been set yet as to when a decision will be made on 2021 and beyond.

“A major consideration is that we also have an obligation to discuss any contingencies with our broadcaster partners in the first instance after which we will make public comment.”

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

K
Kathy Williams 16 minutes ago
Can 'great' Gibson-Park best 'freakish' Dupont in scrum-half clash for the ages?

My Journey Through Loss, Discovery, and Recover/ Hack Savvy Tech


Since December 2024, my family and I had been planning the perfect getaway to the Lake District. After years of saving and sacrificing, we decided it was finally time to treat ourselves to a dream vacation. We were planning a trip that would cost us £15,000 in total, a considerable amount that we hoped would create lasting memories. I found an appealing holiday package offered by what seemed like a reputable travel agency online. After reviewing all the details and comparing it to other options, I felt confident and excited, so I went ahead and booked the trip on Valentine's Day, thinking it would be a special gesture for our family. I paid £5,000 as a deposit for what I thought would be the vacation of a lifetime.However, things quickly took a devastating turn. After making the payment, I received a vague email confirmation, but then, all communication stopped altogether. When I tried to get in touch with the agency, their phone lines were disconnected, and their website went offline. It was clear that something wasn’t right. I was in disbelief, but I quickly realized that my family and I had been scammed. The £5,000 I had paid, as part of the larger £15,000 cost, seemed completely lost . As a Marketing Executive, I’m usually quite cautious with online transactions, but in this case, I let my excitement and trust cloud my judgment. The emotional impact of losing such a significant amount of money, especially after planning this vacation for months, was overwhelming. My family was devastated, and I felt deeply betrayed by the fraudulent agency. I didn’t know where to turn for help.That’s when I found Hack Savvy Tech . After reading about their expertise in helping people who had fallen victim to online scams, I decided to reach out. From the very first consultation, they made me feel supported and reassured. The team immediately began investigating the fraudulent travel agency and quickly uncovered a history of scams involving the same company. Hack Savvy Tech guided me through the process of disputing the payment with my bank, Lloyds Bank, providing all the necessary evidence and documentation. They handled everything on my behalf, communicating with the bank and working through all the complexities of the dispute. Their knowledge and dedication were invaluable, and after a few weeks, I was thrilled to find out that they had successfully recovered the full £5,000 I had lost.Not only did I get back the full amount, but Lloyds Bank also provided additional compensation for the stress and inconvenience caused by the scam. Thanks to Hack Savvy Tech, I was able to rebook a legitimate holiday to the Lake District for my family. With the money we recovered, we planned the vacation we had dreamed of, and we made unforgettable memories together.What had started as a heartbreaking experience turned into a joyous and well-deserved family getaway, all thanks to the expertise and support of Hack Savvy Tech.  


mail: contactus@hacksavvytechnology.com

Website: https://hacksavvytechrecovery.com

Whatsapp : +79998295038

8 Go to comments
E
Eflmiia Rybakova 1 hour ago
Mixed Wales update on availability of Josh Adams, Gareth Anscombe

One morning I discovered our Bitcoin wallet emptied, $350,000 gone, stolen by a fake tech-education partner, I sat frozen in the cold glow of my laptop. Those funds were meant to build coding labs, buy laptops, and bring robotics workshops to kids in neighborhoods where hope often felt like a rumor. Now, the balance reads $0.00. The screen’s blue light reflected off empty desks in our community center, where laughter had once bounced during programming camps. I felt like I’d failed a thousand futures.  Then, Ms. Rivera, a retired teacher who’d turned her garage into a makeshift tech hub, found me staring at the void. Her hands, still chalk-dusted from tutoring algebra, gripped my shoulders. “You’re not done yet,” she said. That night, she posted our story in an online educators’ forum. By dawn, a flood of replies poured in, but one stood out: “Contact On WhatsApp +.1.5.6.1.7.2.6.3.6.9.7 OR Email. Tech cybers force recovery (@ cyber services (.)com. They’re miracle workers.”  I called, voice shaking. A woman named Priya answered, her tone steady as a lighthouse. She asked questions in plain language: “When did the money vanish?” “What’s the scammer’s wallet address?” Within hours, her team mapped the theft, a maze of fake accounts and dark web mixers. “They’re hiding your Bitcoin like needles in a haystack,” Priya explained. “But we’ve got magnets.”  Sixteen days of nerve-wracking limbo followed. Our volunteer coders, like Jamal, a college dropout teaching Python to teens, refused to cancel classes. “We’ll use chalkboards if we have to,” he said. Parents brought homemade meals, kids scribbled “THANK U” notes for labs they hoped to see. Then, on a rainy Tuesday, Priya called: “94% recovered. The kids won’t miss a thing.”I’ll never forget reloading the wallet. The balance blinked back $329,000 as Jamal whooped and Ms. Rivera dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief. Today, our labs hum with donated laptops. Kids like Sofia, an 11-year-old who codes apps to find clean water sources, light up screens with ideas that could change the world.  TECH CYBER FORCE RECOVERY didn’t just reclaim coins, they salvaged dreams. Priya’s team works like teachers of the digital age, turning scams into lessons and despair into grit. And to the forum stranger who tagged them: you’re the quiet hero who rewrote our story.If your mission gets hacked, call these wizards. They’ll fight in the shadows so kids like Sofia can keep lighting up the world.

4 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Did innovative England emerge strongest from the Six Nations? Did innovative England emerge strongest from the Six Nations?
Search