So, its looking like the Yarpies really will go...

[Timbo]

Lots and lots of mumblings and whispers in the paper and on tv over the last few days, all saying the same thing - the rumours that Yarpies are going to jump ship on the Super 14 and head to Europe are true.

I'm wondering what everyone's take on how Australia and New Zealand should proceed is. There is talk that we'll buddy up with Japan and have them enter two sides, or far less likely, Argentina. Additionally, there is talk it could become a purely ANZAC affair.

I for one am only a fan of admitting the Argies if the Yarpies stay on board. If we lose the Yarps, well, as far as I'm concerned the benifit is that I wont have to get up at 3am to watch the Tahs play anymore. Travel wont be so expensive and the competition can grow. I have heard that the bulk of the TV money (please someone feel free to confirm or deny this) does not come from the domestic market, but from European audiences, so as long as the number of games stays the same, the money won't be effected all that much.

I am personally a fan of it becoming a purely Australian/New Zealand affair if this is the case. Not Super 9s, but add in a team from Melbourne, and allow NZ to promote 4 NPC teams and keep it at Super 14. This would allow the second tier of NZ rugby to become semi-professional and take some of the financial strain off of NZ Rugby. I would also be a fan of it becoming a full home and away competition (far more cost friendly without the Yarpies) and with an expanded finals competition (top 5/top 6). The only hurdle could be the ARU objecting to a 14 team comp, with a 9-5 split in favour of NZ, so perhaps a team in South Australia as well, with 3 NPC teams elevated (although South Australian Rugby is a joke).

Thoughts?

 

[Baron Vo Mandor]

Read about this on the foxsports web page sounds very alarming and unless they could get Japan or Argentina on board it really couldnt claim to be a global game any more which was its selling point.

Heard that Fiji, PNG are also interested but could they really generate the coin to put in a competitive side? And if not would the ARU be willing to prop them up indefinately.

Either way its deep sh*t if these teams pull out.

 

[GC_Gladiator]

I can't see where the extra players would come from for any more Australian teams. I'm not a huge rugby fan but have played a bit- and i don't think the quality exists in the club competitions. This would mean the majority of the new teams would come from the NPC.

If it were to happen though, I believe that a European competition with the Yarpies would be the premier competition. Carter left for the money- and i think alot more players could go, and you wouldn't have to take many players away for Rugby Australia to lose alot of identity. Ie. if giteau, George Smith and Lote Tuquiri were to leave, there is no one else in the Aussie squad who the majority of Australians recognise. My main point is that if the European competition became stronger- the ANZAC competition could become significantly weaker which would inturn effect revenue.. both TV and sponsorship.

I think the ARU is worse off in all of this. New Zealand can sustain its own NPC comp., but the ARU wouldn't.

 

[ozbash]

South Africa have emphasised their commitment to Sanzar amid speculation the rugby republic could abandon New Zealand and Australia and take their game to Europe.

With Sanzar in the midst of putting together a new proposal to take to their broadcasting partner News Ltd in June, the prospect of South Africa joining the time-friendly European scene was raised in an article in The Australian newspaper.
The report suggested that the South African Super 14 franchises could be tempted to move north and join the Magners League involving clubs from Wales, Scotland and Ireland.
That has prompted the South Africa Rugby Union (Saru) to deny any such move and reaffirm their commitment to their southern hemisphere partners.
"There is not a jot of truth in this speculation and we wouldn't normally even bother responding to such a story," said Andy Marinos, acting managing director of Saru in a statement.
"But as it has now grown via the internet from speculation from one source in Australasia to a real possibility in websites across Europe we thought rugby supporters would like the record put straight.
"So let me put it quite plainly: we have had no informal or formal discussions with the Magners League - or any European-based leagues for that matter - about deserting our Sanzar partners and playing in a northern hemisphere-based tournament.
"And nor do we have any plans to hold such discussions," he said.
"We remain committed to Sanzar and are taking a full part in discussions looking at the possible expansion of the tournament - a desire we share with our Australian and New Zealand partners. Sanzar's tournaments are vibrant, hugely popular with our supporters of the very highest rugby quality and remain central to our forward planning."
Marinos said that logistically the move would be impossible as the northern and southern hemisphere seasons don't overlap. He also believed it would be a drop in the standard of rugby.
Sanzar's current broadcasting agreement ends in 2010 and they are looking at expansion options within their own boundaries and in Asia and the Americas for Super rugby while there is pressure to bring Argentina into the Tri-Nations.
Speculation about South Africa looking elsewhere is nothing new. It has dogged the Sanzar setup for years with South Africa burdened by travel and tempted to move into a time zone that sees their rugby fall into the same sort of kickoffs as those operating in the UK and France.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4851533a1823.html

 

[Twizzle]

bring Argentina in, we can beat them :lol:

 

[Alehana]

screw the RSA sides, altho they provide some good competition, i cant stand to watch them play they are so boring to watch.

6 sides from NZ (with the extra team coming from the Hawkes Bay Region) 4 from Aus (extra comming from melbourne) 1 from Japan, 2 from South Pacific or a Pacific Islanders team (combing all the regions, and the players are eligable for their own homeland) and if we are really desperate one from Argentina.

We could have an expanded finals series (something the SAfricans didn't want) and traveling could not be an excuse, plus we'd open ourselves up to the Asian Market, $$$ for sure.

At least the rugby would be good to watch at a decent hour.

 

[KHunt]

bullsh*t article, old news for about 5 years now.

I'd love it to happen and if it did, start with super 10 to start with bringing in the Victoria team.

 

[Runrun]

bring Argentina in, we can beat them :lol:

Argentina are actually getting stronger all the time. Their Sevens team is doing very well, much better than ours (as are a lot of other countries) and of course their national side made the semis of the last RWC.

They have beaten the Wallabies two or three times.

 

[Twizzle]

fair enough but its like comparing 20/20 to test cricket

7s may be popular in Argentina but its not given a great deal of priority here, you only need to look at our squad

 

[Timbo]

I wouldn't mind it going to Super 14 with just Melbourne as the Aussie addition, with, say Southland, Taranaki, Bay of Plenty and a combined North Harbour/Northland ('Norths' for arguments sake) coming in. You only take one feeder per franchise out that way. You could just scrap the existing Kiwi Super 14 franchises, and replace them with their NPC 'cousins' (Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury, Otago and Waikato). The remainder (Tasman, Manawatu, Hawkes Bay, Counties Manukau) could be relegated, and a semi-professional competition comprising of those teams plus the Heartlands teams could take over? I don't know, I may be suggesting something politically impossible here.

That would be quite a good competition in my opinion. We could even have a top 5 or top 6 finals competition and have it full home and away.

 

[Solid]

I find the Australian teams the worst to watch.

Particularly the Reds. They play ugly rugby. Plus they are crap