SANZAAR downplays talk of potential Super Rugby split

The head of rugby’s ruling body has said the Super Rugby season is set to go ahead with 14 teams – unless COVID-19 restrictions change the landscape even further.

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Rugby’s ruling body SANZAAR has tried to hose down calls for a permanent trans-Tasman solution to Super Rugby as rogue speculation that is undermining the four-nation coalition.

SANZAAR chief executive Andy Marinos said emphatically on Monday that a 14-team competition for 2021 was in stone unless COVID-19 restrictions forced a rethink.

That is clearly Plan A but never in rugby have Plan B and C had to be so in play as well because of the pandemic.

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The game needs more than Australia and New Zealand. Photo: AAP Image/Mark Nolan

Moving to domestic-only competitions among Super Rugby sides is certain for 2020 but only seemingly as a one-off should health guidelines allow a possible July 4 reboot.

Marinos went further when citing the 2018 commitment of Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina to a long-term strategic plan as a joint venture until 2030.

Essentially, it was his way of saying that the cohort of 10 former Wallabies’ captains and other creative thinkers on a Super Rugby format shake-up are wasting their time.

“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,” Marinos said.

He was referenced conversations with the SANZAAR board of which Rugby Australia executive chairman Paul McLean and New Zealand Rugby boss Brent Impey are a part.

So too are South African chief executive Jurie Roux and Argentinian powerbroker Agustin Pichot.

Andy Marinos has to manage the competition’s concerns. Photo: Lee Warren/Gallo Images/Getty Images

Marinos said any forced changes to competitions as a consequence of the pandemic will be decided by the SANZAAR board with the voices of all four nations.

The timing of Marinos making one of his rare public statements would seem a reaction to South African rugby officials becoming peeved by increasing chatter about being sidelined.

Former Wallabies skipper Rod McCall was clear-cut last week but the idea that Super Rugby is broken and needs urgent surgery is shared by many in this country.

"I think it is obvious that a big part of the reset for the code has to be working out a competition that really suits this region for the next 10 years and having South Africa involved in Super Rugby doesn't," McCall said.

McLean and Impey are open to whatever creative trans-Tasman plans for rugby are possible this season because they head unions which are both in survival mode with no broadcast or turnstile millions coming in.

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Marinos said reports fanning trans-Tasman plans for 2021 were “speculative” and had “no basis.”

“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,” Marinos said.

“We are presently looking in detail at various competition formats but any agreed format will include teams from all four stakeholder national unions and (discussions) with broadcast partners.”

On 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 core markets, a statement read.

That is true in New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina but not yet Australia where former chief executive Raelene Castle knocked back a five-year, $200 million deal from Fox Sports to court Optus.