The verdict is in: South Africa to stay, conferences to be scrapped in major Super Rugby makeover
THE future of Super Rugby is looking a lot clearer, with New Zealand likely to get its way on its preferred model instead of endorsing a push from Australia for a trans-Tasman competition.
A RETURN to the round-robin Super Rugby structure advocated by New Zealand is becoming more likely as the solution to the competition beyond its current television deal.
SANZAAR executives are meeting in Singapore this week and while many fans and pundits in Australia have lobbied for a trans-Tasman only competition — cutting out South Africa — it’s understood there is little appetite to remove them.
Australian and Kiwi officials understand that South Africa not only delivers significant broadcast revenue that is shared among them, but also strong fan engagement here and across the Tasman from expats.
There is also the complication of knifing their long-term partners, who want to remain in Super Rugby, and then trying to work amicably with South African officials for the successful Rugby Champoinship.
Australian officials had toyed with the idea of making a compelling case to New Zealand to have a trans-Tasman tournament beyond 2020, but the Kiwis have little desire to cut South Africa from the equation.
Rugby Australia cannot force New Zealand’s hand, and increasingly sees more value in keeping the South Africans involved in Super Rugby.
But the conference system is clearly not working.
The convoluted finals system, where each conference winner is guaranteed a home final regardless of their total competition points, is rewarding mediocrity.
The involvement of Japan’s Sunwolves is becoming increasingly doubtful as the nation’s corporations, who back the domestic Top 14 league, pull back support of the Super franchise.
If the Sunwolves sink, it could mean the introduction of a Pacific Island team.
But there is much to resolve before then.
Broadcasters will be keen to see what SANZAAR decides upon as their exciting new model.
The round-robin formula is the one used from Super Rugby’s inception when there were 10, 12 and 14 teams.
Once it expanded to 15 sides, three conferences were formed, and later four conferences when 18 teams were in.
This is how it stands today, but the fourth-placed Kiwi team (Highlanders) have more points than the first placed Australian team (Waratahs) yet will have to play a quarter-final away from home if the table stays the same.
The Kiwis are also sick of playing each twice in derbies, such is the intensity and physicality of their battles, while viewing rival conferences as weaker.
A round-robin tournament where the ladder simply runs top to bottom and teams play each other once before the finals is the simplest format available if all SANZAAR partners remain in Super Rugby.
Further discussions will be held in Singapore today, although no definitive stance will be taken.
The executives will meet again in September when more formal proposals will be formulated and taken to television partners.
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Originally published as The verdict is in: South Africa to stay, conferences to be scrapped in major Super Rugby makeover