Saw this idea spoken about on a podcast recently.
Can't say I hate it.
Not sure how scheduling etc would work, but would be nice to have 4 teams in SR and 4 in URC.
Note, I'm not suggesting those sides would ever win a SR comp, but I do feel it could be good for our rugby in general.
Your thoughts?
A combined side or all 4 separately? Doubt they'll be competitive as separate entities.
I believe they were floating it with individual teams, not a composite franchise/s.
You think they'd be less competitive than all the Ozzie and the island sides?
The problem is not the sides - it is about funding of such franchises and in this regard in the SA and Superugby level the only real funder would have to be Supersport and that would entail funding both Australia, the Pacific Islands and New Zealand as well - as was the case as in the past as well when the Supersport funding provided R1,6 bilion and hte money was distribted s follows:-
SA Rugby - R700 million
New Zealand - R400 million
Australia - R400 million and
Argentina - R100 million.
We have already the Highveld Lions in the URC and that Union is finanially in deep trouble.
So the answer will unfortunately be can such a new tournament be financially viable since we can expect no funding from New Zealand and Australia.- who will in fact have to be subsidised by Supersport instead,
A nice idea - but I doubt it will ever materialize,
I believe a new URC agreement set to start in the 2026-27 series and with due regard I cannot see how such an extension of Superugby will in fact materialize,
It’s a cool idea and perhaps a sponsor can be found. It should only be one team, but it gives us access to the backline play of our 3 RC rivals, which can only benefit our skill set. I like it.
Frans Steyn is pushing the idea
Restore the original Super Rugby format as it was always enjoyable and filled the stadiums as well.
The New Zelanders kicked out SA and Argentina from the Supersport tounament - so since they lost out fiancially as a result they now want the cash cow back on the issue and they had to give players sabtticals to earn more money in Japan and Europe. They wanted the tournament changed and that is the end of the story.