South Africa Super 14-How does this work?

[Timbo]

The country has six franchises; however, only five will actually compete in the Super 14 in any given year. The four franchises from the Super 12 era (Bulls, Cats, Sharks, Stormers) will be joined in 2006 by the Central Cheetahs. Starting in 2007, a new team from the Southern and Eastern Cape region, the Southern Spears, will join the Super 14. To make room for the Spears, a promotion/relegation process will be instituted in 2006 to determine which team will not participate in the following season's Super 14.

How on earth will this work? What does the relegated team do? Train all season? And how will they retain players if they wont have any S14 representation?

WORST. IDEA. EVER.

 

[choc_soldier]

The relegated team will play in their provincial competition, I think.

There is some merit - may make the South African teams more competitive if they know their ass is potentially on the line. As a country, their teams generally fare much poorer than the Kiwi's or ours.

 

[aussies1st]

Good move imo, it should make it more interesting if the SA teams again are at the bottom of the heap. At least then they have something to play for.

 

[The Camden Leisure Pirate]

Not a bad idea,
A bit tough on the new team in the comp, but maybe that is the way the
Super 14 has to run to make it a better comp.

 

[skeepe]

South Africa did this originally when the Super 12 started also. The first year, they had Transvaal, Northern Transvaal, Natal and Western Province.

After 1996, Western Province finished lowest of the South African teams, and were replaced by Orange Free State in 1997. Come 1998 and the rugby board in South Africa shook things up by I believe re-arranging the areas and making 4 permanent teams, those we now know as the Cats, Bulls, Sharks, and Stormers.

Sounds pretty much like a return to the old days to me.

 

[Polynesian Warrior]

I think this idea should be introduce to Australia with Melbourne going up in place of the lowest place Australian team .

 

[aussies1st]

It sounds good in theory but you can't really drop any of the teams.

If the Brumbies finish last, all their wallabies will be obselete.
If the Waratahs finish last, same applies plus you lose a heap of revenue given NSW is the biggest state for rugby.
And this last one applies to all teams where their state will be without a Super 14 team basically giving the other codes a free run.

 

[Jackal Dog]

I believe the relegated team will play in a comp against sides from Argentina and lower African nations.