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Super Rugby boss rules out Japan or US teams
By AAP
Rugby Australia boss Andy Marinos has ruled out involvement by teams from Japan or the US in Super Rugby in the near future, saying fans want consistency in the competition.
The chairman of Japan's Top League Genichi Tamatsuka floated to AAP the idea of a cross-over tournament with Australian and New Zealand teams which would help boost the local coffers.
The proposal followed a stand-off between RA and their Kiwi counterparts, with Australian chair Hamish McLennan threatening to walk away at the end of current contract in 2023 with the uneven split of broadcast dollars a sticking point.
Announcing the competition draw on Sunday, the parties declared they were back at the negotiating table ready to nut out an agreement for the competition's future beyond next year.
"We're both committed to continue to grow rugby across the Asia-Pacific region, we're speaking all the time, and we're pretty confident we're going to get to a resolution pretty soon," Marinos told reporters.
Having seen Super Rugby's popularity wane in the last decade with teams dropping in and out, Marinos said while involvement from Japan and the US - who will host the 2031 Rugby World - was enticing, it was time to consolidate the current 12-team competition.
"Growing new markets are very much part of our longer-term thinking," Marinos said on Monday.
"But with all the dislocation we've had in Super Rugby - the separation from South African and Argentinians and the fact that next year will hopefully be the first year of Super Rugby Pacific not impacted by other forces (COVID-19).
"We really want to settle in and bed this competition model and structure down before we start looking to quickly evolve and expand.
"That's been a criticism... where the old Super Rugby competition continually felt needed to expand and add while the fans just wanted consistency in format and performance."
The Waratahs were the surprise packets of the 2021 competition making the quarter-finals under new coach Darren Coleman after failing to win a match in 2020.
Playing all home games at the rebuilt Allianz Stadium after four years away, Waratahs CEO Paul Doorn said they were targeting a top-four spot.
"We see ourselves next year going to the next level and improving on 2021 and that's top four," Doorn said on Monday.
"It's a big step up from where we finished last year but you can see that the home ground advantage in the first week of finals makes a substantial difference so that's the goal we've set ourselves."
Doorn told reporters they were in talks with Allianz officials to remove seats at one end of the ground to create a party zone on the hill, which proved a success at their temporary home at Leichhardt Oval last season.
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Latest Comments
Don't think you've watched enough. I'll take him over anything I's seen so far. But let's see how the future pans out. I'm quietly confident we have a row of 10's lined uo who would each start in many really good teams.
Go to commentsHopefully Joe stays where he is. That would mean Les, McKellar, larkham and Cron should as well. It’s the stability we need in the state programs. But, if Joe goes, RA with its current financial situation will be forced into promoting from within. And this will likely destabilise other areas.
To better understand some of the entrenched bitterness of those outside of NZ and NSW (as an example 😂), Nic, there is probably a comparison to the old hard heads of welsh rugby who are still stuck in the 1970s. Before the days where clubs merged, professionalism started, and the many sharp knives were put into the backs of those who loved the game more than everyone else. I’m sure you know a few... But given your comparison of rugby in both wales and Australia, there are a few north of the tweed that will never trust a kiwi or NSWelshman because of historical events and issues over the history of the game. It is what it is. For some, time does not heal all wounds. And it is still festering away in some people. Happy holidays to you. All the best in 2025.
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