NZRU boss Steve Tew
A decision on Super Rugby’s Asian expansion could require mediation, with Australia and South Africa expected to butt heads over whether Singapore or Japan gains inclusion.
Earlier this month, Fairfax Media revealed expressions of interest from both, and SANZAR confirmed yesterday that Singapore and Japan submitted the only bids for the 18th team to join an Argentinian side and South Africa’s Southern Kings from 2016.
Now those bids have been lodged with SANZAR chief executive Greg Peters, both will have their respective business cases, broadcast revenue potential and competitiveness assessed before a final decision is reached. Additional teams will need around $10 million per year to cover travel, wages and other expenses.
SMH
But robust debate is expected before Singapore or Japan is selected by late October, with an initial agreement between the three SANZAR nations seemingly unlikely.
It is understood that Australia has flagged support for Japan during SANZAR discussions, backing up former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones.
Now in charge of Japan, Jones recently moved to protect his adopted interests by labelling Singapore’s proposal a “joke” and saying SANZAR would “lose all credibility” in selecting the region.
Australia’s support for Japan is also thought to be based on the country’s comparatively strong rugby history, established infrastructure, local competition and World Cup hosting rights in 2019.
By contrast, South Africa are firmly in Singapore’s camp due to travel concerns. An 11-hour flight to Singapore appeals to them far more than the 22 hours it takes to get to Japan. Given they produce the lion’s share of SANZAR’s broadcast revenue, there are already fears South Africa will attempt to bully its coalition partners into agreement.
With Australia likely to opt for Japan, New Zealand’s position remains unclear.
New Zealand Rugby chief executive Steve Tew said on Thursday the governing body had deliberately taken an open stance until the tender process was complete, but declined to comment further.
Singapore’s bid is based around the Asia Pacific Dragons, a team owned by entrepreneur Eric Series, who also sponsors New Zealand rugby through his company Sealegs.
Series’ ties to the Pacific Islands could change New Zealand’s neutral position, but if Australia holds firm, mediation will be needed.
The potential standoff could lead to a repeat of the arbitration required when the Melbourne Rebels gained inclusion over the Port Elizabeth-based Kings.
Two representatives from each of SANZAR three member unions sit on Super Rugby’s board, but votes are cast as countries, not individuals. Peters will not cast a vote. Crucially, only a 3-0 unanimous vote will be good enough to gain immediate sign-off. Otherwise, mediation will again be necessary to settle the dispute.
In 2009, former All Blacks captain David Kirk led a mediation panel that swung the vote in favour of the Rebels, on the basis that revenue would have dropped up to $US20 million (NZ$21.3m) over the five-year broadcast agreement.
SANZAR has not appointed a mediator and still hopes to reach a unanimous agreement.
Eddie Jones, coach of Japan and World Cup winning medal assistant coach to the Springboks in 2007 has made no bones about who he feels deserves the coveted 18th spot.
According to Eddie Jones, the choice of Japan is a “no brainer”
“In terms of growing the game you’d think they would choose Japan,” Jones said.
“Singapore has no rugby history at all. They would just be coming and plonking a team of Pacific islanders there.”
“It can’t be the right choice. That’s just crazy.”
Jones has guided Japan’s Brave Blossoms to a record ten successive wins, culminating in a 26-23 victory over Italy in Tokyo last month which saw the Asian champions break into the world’s top ten for the first time.
“Japan’s 10th in the world, has the world’s fourth biggest rugby playing population, the world’s third biggest economy. Japan hosts the World Cup in 2019.”
“But professional rugby is all about money so there could be other economic factors.”
SANZAR will make a decision in September or October.
The suggestion that Singapore could be selected in order to cut down on flying times for South African sides was given short shrift by Jones, currently preparing his side for next year’s World Cup in England.
“Just because it’s 11 hours from South Africa? You have to take rugby to growth centres, not artificial places.”
Also see : Super Rugby: Japan and Singapore eye extra 2016 berth, right here on Rugby-Talk.com
It’s simple. Which country wil bring in the most money. Singapore is much easier to travel to but how big is their rugby audience. I know there are a lot of safas in singapore which will support sa teams.
I’ve lost all interest in the Super15. I’ve stopped watching matches and honestly couldn’t care who wins the tournament.
The current format is a unfair contest and there are too many teams.
I would rather see a tier A and B competition with 12 teams in each (4 from SA, NZ and Oz in tier A and teams from SA, Japan, Pacific Island -Singapore- ,Argentina and NZ in tier B). All teams play each other. Winners of B play a relegation match against losers of tier A. That means that all 12 teams can come theoretically from one or two countries. However, Japan, Singapore and Argentina can -if good enough- work their way into Tier A.
This means strength against strength and no run-away games where weak teams are slaughtered by strong teams.
When I say all teams play each other I mean all teams within a particular tier. Tier A teams play against all other tier A teams and B teams against all other tier B teams.
@ McLook:
Stop advocating that kind of logic bru’, you are dealing with power mongers, rugby politicians and media moguls here, they are not open to your deductive ways of thinking.
If power and dollars are to be gained, those two objectives will determine their reasoning, simple as that, stuff the rugby lovers and supporters….we are just ‘donkey meat’ to them, the ones paying TV dish subscriptions and stadium tickets.
Would have been very entertaining though, your Super 12 competition.
But whatever, I dearly want a Saffa team to win this thing in 2014!
GO SHARKS!!!!
I like the team in the light Blue. Wish the Bulls can go back to their roots
At least there is one of ours there too. Go Tahs
Pietman wrote:
Hope the Bulls made more with their crazy coloured outfits the last few years because they certainly wont get money from full stadiums the way we play now.
Only this game cost the Leopards a place in the top tier.
GWK Griquas 33 – 32 Leopards(2 bonus points) GWK Park, Kimberley
superBul wrote:
Even King Park wasn’t full on Saturday.
6 @ superBul:
“I like the team in the light Blue. Wish the Bulls can go back to their roots”
Interesting you mention this, watch this space, will be publishing a “lighter side” look at some jerseys later this week
superBul wrote:
Hope the Bulls made more with their crazy coloured outfits the last few years because they certainly wont get money from full stadiums the way we play now.
Hehe sad but true comment of the week.
McLook wrote:
The way things went this year… in two years tier B would be hotly contested by South African teams, all our quality players would leave for Europe leading to the death of local South African rugby…
We can not afford a tiered competition, it is too risky. SARU would only go into a competition where we are assured participation for most of our teams, which is unfortunately 6 teams now.
In two or three years Saffas would cry over the “new” tier A and B format and how they have lost interest in the competition too, because we have to play teams from Singapore and Japan.
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