The SANZAR Executive Committee on Wednesday decided to go to ‘arbitration’ to decide between Melbourne and the Southern Kings to be the 15th Super Rugby team.

It did not take them long to work out the parties will not easily agree on the 15th franchise. In a statement issued after the meeting on Wednesday the officials said “it was clear that the Executive Committee would not reach the required unanimity”.

“As a result no vote was taken by the Executive Committee and it was agreed that the matter should proceed to arbitration in accordance with the SANZAR joint venture agreement,” the statement said.

“SANZAR will move quickly to set up an independent arbitration process which will result in a binding decision.”

It means Melbourne and Port Elizabeth will have to wait a while longer to learn if either will have a Super 15 franchise. Of course a PE franchise will still play out of Australia if I understand it right. It will be interesting to see the issues considered by arbitration and the ultimate decision.

If I can play devils advocate you also have to wonder how much grand standing is being done by SARU, this way they can always go back and say “we did our best” even though I feel this is a forgone conclusion.

6 Responses to SANZAR go to arbitration

  • 1

    Ag jussie tog, dit stel tog net die onvermydelike kak uit dat Melbourne die ding gaan kry….

    Flok

  • 2

    Is hoekom ek reken saru pretend net om n fight op te sit, dan kan hulle se hulle het probeer!

  • 3

    Anything to do with the new S15 really gets me going. The Ozzie’s have managed to pull of the biggest coup in rugby history. With this new extended S15 comp the CC is going to become nothing more than a Vodacom Cup comp.

    My biggest concern is that the Ozzie’s are going to rape us buy buying all our young talent. Think about this, till now very few youngsters went to play in Europ, for the most part it was a thing for the more aged SA players. The reason was simple if you go to Europe you won’t be seen and won’t be selected for the Boks. But how is PDV not going to select a player that plays for the Brumbies or the Tahs and the SA rugby supporters can see the guy performing against our teams every weekend in S15. PDV will have no option but to select such a player.

    Till now the Ozzie’s didn’t buy our players because they don’t have a domestic provincial comp, but with the extended S15 they won’t need it as the S15 will run almost to the end of the year European tours. So from 2011 the Ozzie’s can offer our players year round rugby through the S15. I think they are going to buy as empty. Who knows how many youngsters from SA will be playing for the Ozzie’s in the 2015 WC.

  • 4

    I dont believe watering down the quality of RSA rugby is the right move but the Convicts definitely dont deserve another team ! PIs will cannot play as one team – too tribal.

    This leaves Argentina – why are we bringing them into the 3N when they haven’t yet played any Super Rugby ? Don’t get me wrong I want them to come play with us – they play nice rugger & srub up pretty nicely as eye candy too – I am not seeing a down side 🙂

  • 5

    I am waiting on TonyM and Morne to comment on this one, it is right up their alley….

  • 6

    @stier – 3

    Exactly Stier, I have been saying it for a long time. Those Aussies are going to come here and scout like crazy. Can see a lot of our youngsters going over there to play. It will happen. Pity.

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