Oz seek Super Rugby revamp

Super 14 | March 13th, 2008

ARU chief John O’Neill says discussions have begun to implement a 26-week Super Rugby competition that could drastically alter southern hemisphere schedules.

The competition was expanded in 2006 from 12 teams to 14, and there have been rumours that two more sides will be added in the near future. However, it may not be as simple as adding two teams to the current schedule, as a major alteration could be made that will see the Super Rugby competition played out over six months.

The revamped tournament would be in a three-round format. Following the traditional round-robin contest, a second round of local derbies in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa would be played. The final round would most likely involve the top six teams.

This would see the competition conclude in August, meaning the Tri-Nations would only be played thereafter. Autumn Test matches involving northern hemisphere opposition will be played midweek.

O’Neill also wants Japan in the mix, with a franchise set to be based in Tokyo. Half the team would comprise locals and the other half foreigners.

“We are very serious about Japan,” he said. “We want to really accelerate Japan’s move into the proper professional era. There is the possibility of a Bledisloe Cup being played in Tokyo, a Pacific Rim tournament, and a team based in Japan playing in Super Rugby.”

O’Neill said the structures of other codes had been consulted when drawing up the new format.

“In the AFL and NRL, the teams don’t actually play each other twice. This is a version of a round and a half, where the second round are local derbies. Then we go to a really big final series, which would be promoted almost as a new product. We could really pump up that finals series, so it becomes a serious knockout competition.”

However, his NZRU counterpart Steve Tew said the proposals were at the preliminary stage.

“John has floated one option that would clearly suit the Australian set of circumstances, probably better than ourselves or South Africa,” Tew told NZPA.

“There are any number of things we would need to consider, though, in terms of finding our position.”

Tew did say Japan are being targeted, but also believesthe Pacific nations and Argentina need to be incorporated as well.

“There needs to be a more strategic look at how Super rugby might unfold,” he said. “We wouldn’t dismiss John’s thoughts out of hand. We see the gateway to Asia as being important.”

Posted by JC |