SANZAAR saga could force up to 20 Australian players overseas

AN estimated 60 Australian players are stuck in contract limbo by the drawn-out Super Rugby saga and it’s feared one-third could go overseas.

AN estimated 60 Australian players are stuck in contract limbo by the drawn-out Super Rugby saga and it’s feared one-third could go overseas or be left in professional purgatory due to the uncertainty.

Players are growing increasingly frustrated after it emerged this week that SANZAAR’s strategy on Super Rugby’s future may not be finalised until next month and with it, a call on whether an Australian franchise will be axed.

SANZAAR meetings in London last week still didn’t yield a resolution but a “preferred” model — believed to be a return to 15 teams — was instead taken back to national unions and stakeholders for further consultation.

Boiled down, it appears the ARU and SANZAAR partners are waiting on South Africa to decide if they will agree to cut two teams. There is no certainty about when the answer will come.

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If SARU agree to cut two, the ARU would then need more time to determine which Aussie franchise will be closed down.

The problem for a large group of Australian players is that the ARU have placed a moratorium on any franchise signing contracts with non-Wallabies players.

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Club bosses and players want to secure their futures but the ARU - who sign off on every Australian Super Rugby contract — can’t rubber stamp the deals because of the possibility one franchise may be cut. Some contracts would then be void - but still payable.

It is a logical tactic by the ARU but players are growing frustrated with SANZAAR’s never-ending “process” and the secrecy around it. Many are worried they’ll be stranded without a job next year, particularly those at the under-threat Force, Rebels and Brumbies franchises.

It is understood franchises and players have continued negotiating and some handshake agreements have been made, but most acknowledge they wouldn’t be legally binding.

If 18 teams remain the franchises will no doubt sign up their men quickly but there are fears among clubs bosses that players with overseas offers will take them and depart before that point.

Franchises have been gagged but one unnamed coach told the Australian newspaper he is worried about losing “six or seven players” and believes every team would be the same.

The ARU would re-home on-contract players from a cut franchise to other Australian teams but it’s unclear if the off-contract players would get similar assistance.

While some players could indeed be lost overseas, player managers say the bigger impact of the “unfair timing” of SANZAAR’s lengthy process could be players locked out of the professional market altogether.

For players cut loose into the market in April or May, Australian squads will be mostly full and Japanese spots are long gone.

France’s national push means opportunities are drying up rapidly in the Top 14 — and as a result lower divisions too — and only UK passport holders or ex-Wallabies can be signed in England.

Given the uncertainty about which of three Australian clubs may be cut, players can’t even hedge and explore other franchises.

“The ARU has inadvertently incentivised players to seek certainty overseas, which is not an outcome RUPA supports but we cannot begrudge any player prioritising their families or livelihoods,” RUPA boss Ros Xenos said.

The ARU said it was working hard to ensure a fair outcome for all parties.

“We agree with RUPA on ensuring the players’ best interests are prioritised,” said ARU chief operating officer Rob Clarke.

“This is the very reason why the ARU is working closely with our Super Rugby Clubs to ensure that the player contracting environment during this time is equitable and reasonable for all parties.

“Whilst we acknowledge this may be difficult in a handful of individual cases, we strongly believe that the position we have taken is in the best interests of the broader playing group in Australia.”