Super Rugby Aotearoa could grow to include more New Zealand sides next season according to NZR's chairman
While it’s perhaps fair to say that the Super Rugby model has been in due of a rejig for a number of years now, the global pandemic has forced the hands of the various stakeholders to consider a significant change-up in 2021.
This year, New Zealand and Australia are operating two completely separate competitions, Super Rugby Aotearoa and Super Rugby AU, which will include no international interaction.
Meanwhile, there’s little clarity at present what’s on the cards for South Africa and Argentina this year.
Looking ahead to 2021, there’s a very real chance that those nations still won’t be able to engage in regular international travel – but the possibility exists of New Zealand and Australia teaming up to create some form of trans-Tasman competition.
While fans around the world have enjoyed the spectacle of Super Rugby Aotearoa this year, New Zealand Rugby chairman Brent Impey has suggested that the current model is infeasible for the future.
“Certainly the way it’s been embraced has been terrific,” Impey told Stuff.
“The derbies are always the ones that have attracted the best crowds and the best television, everything.
“The challenge is that it’s pretty hard to run a sustainable competition with five teams.
A small dose of high-quality football works wonders – which is the situation that New Zealand has currently found itself in – but if the same five teams play one another week after week, year after year, then the product will become stale over time. Imepy has instead suggested that any future competitions – that aren’t forced by external events – must have some variety in order to keep fans interested.
“It worked perfectly this year but going longer-term, it’s not really a sustainable model,” Impey said.
“We’ve got an open mind, but we’ve got to remember what our fans want and also make sure it’s viable.”
The two easiest solutions for 2021 (and possibly beyond) would be to include Australian teams and create a trans-Tasman competition or to simply expand Super Rugby Aotearoa and introduce more New Zealand teams.
While the former option might not produce the level of rugby, the latter comes with other pitfalls.
“One of the issues you get into if you just extend out New Zealand teams is the question of high performance,” said Impey.
“We’ve been able to use the current five to field a pretty decent All Black team over the years with very few hiccups.
“The risk you are running if you go down that line is the watering down of high performance.”
Rugby Australia, who are in dire financial straits, will be desperate to come to an arrangement for NZR for the future. While Australian fans may enjoy watching their local talent go toe-to-toe, the quality of competition would see a marked increase with New Zealand sides involved.
New RA chairman Hamish McLennan has suggested that a trans-Tasman competition is the future and Impey certainly hasn’t ruled that out.
“We’re open to working with Rugby Australia. We’re open to it all. We’ve got a completely open mind as we plan through.”
The wider public would almost certainly like to see involvement from the likes of Japan and the Pacific Islands while a future involving South Africa and Argentina is looking less and less likely.
Comments on RugbyPass
Lets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
10 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
10 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to comments