NZRU stays loyal to South Africa in Super Rugby

A daring, last-ditch proposal by Australia's rugby players to form a trans-Tasman breakaway competition has been shot down by the New Zealand game's chief powerbrokers.

As the future shape of Super Rugby inches closer to a form that will be taken to the broadcasting market, details have emerged of a proposal from the Australian Rugby Union Players' Association to reduce the competition to a 10-team trans-Tasman format, with a peripheral role only for the South Africans.

Aussie players boss Greg Harris presented his organisation's preference to his New Zealand and South African counterparts in Hong Kong recently, and told The Australian newspaper that the future of the game across the Tasman may depend on it.

Harris told Rob Nichol (NZ) and Piet Heymans (South Africa) that Rupa research had delivered a firm indication that Sanzar's proposed 18-team Super Rugby model would not produce sufficient compelling rugby for the Australian game.

"The most viable model, the one in the best interests of Australian rugby, is a 10-team competition between Australia and New Zealand," he told the paper. "The only crossover involving South Africa would come at the playoffs stage."

Australian rugby is desperate to cash in on a vibrant broadcasting market that has emerged across the Tasman, with the AFL ($A250m annually) and NRL ($A200m) both signing monster deals in recent times, dwarfing the $A25m that rugby nets at present.

But the two most powerful men in New Zealand rugby, NZRU chief executive Steve Tew and Players Association boss Rob Nichol, have both given emphatic indications they did not support the rebel Australian proposal. Both have emphasised the importance of having South African involvement in the round-robin competition.

"We value playing South African teams in the round-robin, and think it's really important we have that level of competition and experience. We'd be very nervous about not having the ability to play South African teams," Nichol said.

New Zealand's players have thrown qualified support behind the latest preferred model presented which is an 18-team competition spread over a slightly decreased time period.

"From our perspective if you're considering introducing new teams it's the best one that's been brought out so far," Nichol said. "Having said that, there's an awful lot of water to go under the bridge and a lot of boxes to tick."

Nichol's chief concern is the involvement of a team from Argentina. "It's not that we don't want to see them in Super Rugby, but a lot of things need to be considered, not the least of which is this the best thing to do for Argentina rugby."

Tew confirmed yesterday he stood by his comments made earlier that the NZRU regarded South Africa as an intrinsic part of Super Rugby.

He said the "significant" broadcast income provided through SuperSport was a part of that, but not the sole driver.

"Everyone we talk to in coaching and high performance believe our young athletes need to play South African teams before they start to play test matches. So we think they're vitally important from a rugby perspective too.

"We're doing our best to make sure this competition continues to involve South Africa," he said.

With a June 30 deadline fast approaching, it's likely the current "preferred model" will be the one agreed upon. That has 18 teams playing a 15-game season in an "innovative" conference format, with travel by South African teams significantly reduced.

"We fully respect the Australian players want to work closely with the ARU to achieve what they think is in the best interests of Australian rugby, but unfortunately they might just be a little late," Nichol said.

The players boss does urge "go-to options" should the proposed format not meet broadcasters' requirements. "If you have to fall back to a 15 or 16-team competition you need to know what that's going to look like."