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Trans-Tasman Super Rugby clashes 'one of the models that we are working through at the moment'
By Online Editors
The prospect of trans-Tasman rugby battles including Bledisloe Cup tests resuming this year have received another boost.
Rugby Australia's under-pressure chief executive Raelene Castle says in a Sydney Morning Herald report that there are "consistent discussions" with her New Zealand counterparts.
Like all sports, rugby faces an uncertain future because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But Castle's three-point plan to keep ailing Australian rugby afloat appears to include a quick return to transtasman matches.
This would probably require a change to quarantine restrictions but Castle appeared hopeful of the Wallabies and All Blacks resuming battle.
The SMH reported that "encouraging progress in containing the pandemic in Australia and New Zealand has given weight to the theory that trans-Tasman club matches and Bledisloe Tests will be played later this year".
Castle was reported as saying: "That's certainly one of the models that we are working through at the moment.
"We remain in consistent discussions with New Zealand because, obviously, that makes a lot of sense.
"The indications we're getting with government agencies is that the sequence of opening up (borders) is likely to be domestic first, then into trans-Tasman, then into Asia Pacific, so we have a number of different scenarios to look at and that is currently one of them."
The full force of the pandemic struck just as RA was about to sign a big broadcasting deal with Optus.
Castle is hopeful a new deal and World Rugby loans of $16m will come to her sport's rescue. She believes negotiations wth Optus can resume before the end of the financial year.
"Castle must also find a way to put a product back on field to ensure Foxtel and Channel Ten have no reason to pull any future payments," the SMH reported, citing the trans-Tasman fixtures.
Foxtel, Channel Ten and BSkyB signed a five year $285m deal with RA Australia in 2015. But the predicted price of any new deal had already dropped significantly before the virus struck.
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Latest Comments
Excellent points Mz. Because of other commitments I have just watched the game.
Interesting watching it after reading all the news reports especially in the English media. I was expecting to see a game that the ABs were very lucky to win. What I saw was a game that England showed their tactical incompetence and their inability to construct any try scoring opportunities.
They can go on deluding themselves that they were unlucky to lose ( as Borthwick said post match ) but until they stop relying on rush defence and goal kicking to win I feel they're doomed to be ranked 4 or 5 in the world.
Can't wait until the weekend to see how the Wallabies go against them
Though I dare say Walter will be hoping for an England win.
Go to commentsIF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.
As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.
Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).
This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.
If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.
Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.
After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.
Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.
Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)
Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.
Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.
Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.
Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:
Seeding Band 1
IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG
Seeding Band 2
SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO
Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6
Strongest pool opponent: FIJI
1/8 final opponent GEORGIA
Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond
Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6
Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA
1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND
Prognosis: You know the prognosis
I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?
Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.
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