THE leading rugby nations, including Australia, will seek a larger slice of the World Cup pie to compensate them for millions of dollars of lost income from the IRB’s decision to cancel inbound Test matches in the year the showpiece event is held.
The top nine countries – Australia, England, France, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa and Wales – face a collective loss of $100 million next year because of the reduced Test schedule heading into the World Cup.
The only Tests the Wallabies will play will be against New Zealand and South Africa, home and away, in a shortened Tri-Nations tournament.
ARU chief executive John O’Neill said Australia would be $16m out of pocket, while SANZAR as a whole would be $36m worse off. The European nations would be about $70m poorer.
The countries will seek an increase in the $5.5m IRB grant from World Cup profit, which was $196m in 2007.
“When the decision was taken, no inbounds and outbounds in the World Cup year, no one did the financial analysis. What is that going to cost world rugby?” O’Neill said.
“Now we know it’s going to cost SANZAR $36m. We alone are $16m worse off. Throw in England, France, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Italy, it’s not hard to come up with another 70.
“The SANZAR partners have put their case to the IRB. We now have the support of the other unions to put in writing what their financial circumstances are and when the IRB has a complete picture, we’ll sit down and address it.
“We are not saying write us a cheque. We are saying here’s the problem. It can’t be perpetuated. In 2015 it can’t happen again.
“If the major powers, the top nine countries in the world, are under the pump financially because they have participated in a World Cup, that’s bad for the game. There’s something fundamentally wrong.”
O’Neill also called for the IRB to impose penalties and sanctions on European clubs which do not release players for Test duty.
Returning from the recent IRB council meeting in Dublin, O’Neill praised the international governing body for paving the way for Argentina’s inclusion in an expanded Four Nations tournament from 2012 by changing player release regulations.
The majority of Argentina’s Test players play in France, which would have made them unavailable for the Pumas in the southern hemisphere tournament.
The new Four Nations release period (late August to early October) and the Cross Hemisphere Player Release Provision will enable European-based Argentinians to play for the Pumas, theoretically at least.
But O’Neill said the regulations had to be given teeth.
“I know we’ve got the regulation, but have we got the good spirit and the goodwill?” O’Neill said. “The proof is yet to come.
“We don’t know yet whether the regulation will have teeth. Will an Argentinian player be persuaded not to go?
“That’s actually against the regulation. Put in penalties and sanctions that punish offenders.”
O’Neill said the SANZAR countries were considering a proposal from Argentina for each of the Super 15 franchises in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa to recruit one Puma each, which would help with player availability for the Four Nations.
“If each of the 15 teams took on one Argentinian, that’s not bad,” O’Neill said. “That’s not a bad start. Then player availability doesn’t become a problem because they are playing in our season.”
O’Neill also lauded the IRB’s decision to return to traditional tours from 2012, replacing one-off Tests, and confirmed the Wallabies would play the All Blacks in Hong Kong in a fourth Bledisloe Cup match on October 30.
The Aussies are whinging……………………who would have imagined that?
Waltzing Matilda……
@ 1 Steady on, loosie. If you read the story you will note O’Neill is making a point on behalf of SANZAR, not just Aus. He highlights lost SANZAR income in excess of $36m – that sort of financial loss can negatively impact on Southern Hemishpere rugby as a whole.
Griqua
I admit that the article is reaching much further than only Australia, yet, one has to begin asking questions regarding the constant monetary issues always raised by especially ARU and Australian Based Teams.
The do nothing to grow the sport within their borders, and are technically only capitalizing on test matches, seeing as their Super 14 matches are very badly attended. Australia will always be riding on the backs of NZ and South Africa, and that being said, even NZ are reporting losses.
If I was them, I would really start investing in some type of provincial competition, even if you have to include the South Sea boys, until the Australian public doesn’t accept rugby as an important sport in Australia, they will always be moaning about money.
It’s all about the money. And we want more………
The Saint
What is RSA doing to develop rugby beyond its boundaries….I will tell…NOTHING but rape and pillage like everyone else.
Oneill is looking after his own patch…he has to. So does RSA and if they dont do it so good then that is not ARU problem.
If ARU had nothing to offer in this deal or any deal do you think anyone wil be part of a deal that the ARU are part of? I will tell you again NOT ONE!!
No body goes into a venture wanting to lose money. ARU, NZ and RSA have there different products they bring to the table that makes a deal worthwhile.
We always go in circles when the sanzar deal is being negotiated. RSA wants to move out but never does. Supporters always say how ARU have nothing to offer – then why does NZ and RSA not move away from any dealings with Aus.
Do you know why – I will tell you again. Playoing Aus is a marketing tool sanzar uses uses to sell tv rights into Europe. Earnings will significantly diminish if Aus or NZ are not part of it. RSA will not make as much money as they are now if they joined Europe and RSA will be flogged over a barrel in any NH deal.
You need to manage those hate emotions of yours of anything not RSA.
Wallabie
Oh please, cry me a river.
Just for the record, YOUR moronic O’Neil is the guy frequently calling for SA to be scrapped from SANZAR. SA never contemplated moving out, as you said WE ARE MAKING MONEY you lot, not.
I have no hate emotions towards the Aussies, just can’t stand their absolute arrogance, worse than the americans, whole year going on about the Reds this, Brumbies that, sure, they had a few surprising results, but what has that gained them? Zilch!
What does Australia offer the rugby world? Whinging about money, whinging about referees, whinging about semi-finals, which comes back to whinging about money. If they have so much to offer, why always moan?
What has South Africa done to develop rugby beyond its borders? Geez man, are you an idiot? Both Argentina and Namibia are playing in OUR local competitions, to give those guys some international exposure? SA was the main voice calling for Argentina to be added to the Tri-Nations.
You are right about one thing though, Australia are a bunch of tools!
GBS, Quick Question, do you know how the royalties are split in terms of the SuperSport Broadcasting deal, am I right in saying that SuperSport’s main income, comes from inside the SA Borders, and that the SuperSport deal is SA Rugby’s main income?
Which goes to say that Financially, SA Rugby is strong even without the SANZAR Alliance?
7@ Saint – I’m not sure, why don’t you investigate for us… oh and look at the Latest Attendance Thread… SA Shoud have 50% or more of the spectator figures after the Semi’s
The saint
Whinging about money, whinging about the referees…lol
You just got read the saffa websites regarding all the topics you mention…even you are whinging.
Come on mate get yourself a mirror.
Is it not before a game saffas checklist looks like this
Weather –
Referee –
studs –
Anthem singer –
“Justice 4” headgear –
swinging Arm protection –
All this smacks of arrogance as the Boks always lose to something else other than their opposition.
That is arrogance!!
Money – RSA supporters have always wanted the Boks to leave. Dont try and conjure something else up!
Even Van Rooyen wanted to get a club competition started with the NH to begin the departure from SANZAR.
RSA even threatened departure during last years negotiations and the negotiations back in 2004-05.
When they have tried and the reality shown to them they come back, with less leverage, to the table. Oneill called RSA bluff this year when RSA only leverage was to threaten…he said go then and we will plan a plan B.
Who came back? If RSA was so powerful in the alliance in regards to Money then why do they always come back.
This alliance is the sum of all parts!!
The Saint
Argentina and Namibia playing in your comps….which comps are these…Currie Cup premier division?
Having a player or 2 in each side is not developing another nations players…its using them.
The RSA teams in different position to any other nations teams.
The saint
“Which goes to say that Financially, SA Rugby is strong even without the SANZAR Alliance?”
So why has RSA not followed up on their threats????
10@ Walla – An Argentinian Team and a Namibian Team competed this year in the SA Vodacom Cup Competition.
But that is not all where SA helps in Africa… for example, Chester Williams went and coached the Uganda team about a year ago…
There is also regular sides from SA who compete in African competitions…
We’ve just also had the Bamburi Club Tournament…
Anyway, I still think more can be done inside SA to broaden the game… mostly by providing adequate facilities in outlying and rural areas, bridging the gap between School and Club and Provincial levels, also creating more Rugby Academies in SA….. and of course we need more emphasis on development from SARU and some assistance from government.
For the Bulls to play their semi-final in Orlando has proven to be a major coup by the Bulls…. apparently Bulls jerseys are selling like hot-cakes in Soweto and surrounds and the vibe from all and sundry is very positive about this move. Yesterday our house executive came to me and said her sons, Dennis and Innocent have bought Bulls jerseys… and they were wondering whether I could get Bulls Rugby Players to sign it for them… tell you what, I’m going to do my utmost to achieve it for them…
10 – Walla, A full Argentinian team competed in our Vodacom cup this year. Also a Namibian team. Now that is helping out. By have their full teams here. Probably not the ones playing in france but these guys are all from Arg and Namib.
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