Itchy investors agitated over SANZAAR deliberations

The various private ownership interests in Super Rugby clubs are becoming increasingly frustrated with the ongoing SANZAAR debate around the future shape of the tournament, with some now calling for an independent tournament commission to safeguard their investments.

As it stands, no decision has yet been made on the exact future make-up of Super Rugby but, as reported in the Watercooler two weeks ago, New Zealand Rugby has made a recommendation to the other SANZAAR partners to cut two South African teams and one Australian team in order to simplify the conference format.

Australian club CEOs met on Tuesday to discuss the proposal but have been gagged by the Australian Union which still has not formulated an official response to the recommendations. It is also believed the NZ CEOs were briefed on Wednesday with explicit caution issued regarding private owners opening a dialogue with their Australian equivalents.

The ARU does not seem to be in a great position to negotiate, having spent millions in recent seasons propping up the balance sheets of its teams. As one insider said “the entire proposal feels like McDonald's telling Burger King to get rid of three of their restaurants.”

The South African governing body, SARU, is also in a parlous financial position. According to sources inside the discussions, SARU has not dismissed the proposal out of hand, and is seriously considering culling two of its teams. Cheetahs boss Harold Verster claimed on Monday that his club was safe from the cull, sparking widespread speculation that a ‘Super 16’ was still very much on the cards.

Regardless of where negotiations lead, private interests in the competition have discussed the possibility of forming an NRL-style commission. SANZAAR as a governing body is the centralised tool of the various member unions, rather than an independent voice solely promoting the interests of the competition.

Private owners say it is imperative that, like the NRL, A-League, and AFL, Super Rugby can stand on its own feet as a competition, rather than operating as a feeder system for the international game, which remains under the auspices of the unions that constitute SANZAAR, and out of the hands of outside investors.