RE: RE: RE: Another expandsion of Super Rugby?

The following from News 24:-

"The New Zealand government has reportedly funded a feasibility study to determine if the Pacific Islands should get a Super Rugby team.   According to New Zealand’s Newshub website, both New Zealand Rugby (NZR) and the country’s government have worked on the proposal, meaning a united 'Pacific Force' is now close to reality.

The team would be made up of players from Fiji, Samoa and Tonga.

The feasibility study was carried out by Jeremy Curragh, a respected rugby commercial operative, and cost New Zealand taxpayers $80 000.

The report further states that the team would be based in Suva, Fiji but also play home games in Samoa, Tonga, Auckland and Sydney.

The team would be set up as an independent franchise and enter the competition in 2021, the report added.

A potential stumbling block for the proposal, according to the Stuff.co.nz website, is whether South African teams would be willing to play in Suva, given the fact that they already find travelling to Australia and New Zealand onerous.

This follows recent reports that an American team could be added to the competition, while there have also been reports that South African teams could exit to join leagues in Europe.

SANZAAR has denied these reports and last week stated that all its member unions were still on board and involved in an ongoing review to determine Super Rugby's future up to 2030.

This could work if NZ reduce their teams to four and let the United team envisaged to replace the Blues,   Despite the assurances by SA that it is committed to Sanzaar - it seems that NZ is planning for the eventuality should SA teams ll eave  the comp in 2021    

They already have representatives from all the South Pacific Islands playing at the highest level ... the All Blacks.

Maybe they're preparing additional players from these primitive islands to join the soon to be kiwi funded competition once the South African teams leave for the northern hemisphere.

It's good to be prepared. Then they can make up the rules as they go along.

Funny though ... the Kiwis push and shove to get rid of 2 of South Africa's teams, only to bring one of it's own into the mix.

Does the hypocrisy ever end with these people?.

A Pasifika team makes more sense than the Japanese team,even if it was based in Tokyo and included the Japanese players .

But Auckland is the biggest Pacific city withe a large PI base that would love a PI team.

Wardad

I lie the idea - but whether Sanzaar will approve it apparently rest with the full Board and it ould eb difficult to get approval for it with New Zealand retaining their present 6 teams - especially in view of possible resistance  by SA on the issue of exta travelling.

The main reason would be that in the case of NZ they rarely are away forom playing in SA for more than two matches - but in the case of SA it normally entails a 4 week absence to play in NZ and Australia.   They also have factor in a game against the Sunwolves would could even make th absence 5 weeks..

This year in the case of NZ a number of franchises was in SA tio play only one game - their second game being in Argentina.   The other alternative would be to reduce the Aussie teams to three teams.

This indeed would be a hard sell so lets wait and see what happens.   .   

3 Aussie 5 saffa and Kiwi teams with a Pasifika/Japanese team and the Jags .Super -duper 15 .

Wardad

Could be an interesting approach.   There ciuld still be three  conferences with the third one being 

# Aussie teams (Waratahs, Rebels and Reds)  

*   Pacific Islands - Japan team

*   Jaguares

Wardad

Could be an interesting approach.   There ciuld still be three  conferences with the third one being 

# Aussie teams (Waratahs, Rebels and Reds)  

*   Pacific Islands - Japan team

*   Jaguares

FYI NZRFU had nothing to do with two SA sides leaving super rugby. That was Sanzars joint decision. If the comp does gt a pacific side. I am not sure that is up to the NZRFU. They are proposing the idea. But its a Pacific Side.NZ are jjust trying to limit the onset of the China influence. If that makes them hypocrits then fine. Boy som fo you sa rugby fans are bitter about NZ rugby atm. Is it because were dominating? Sour Grapes much

...i would like to see a Fijian team myself....They play a very exciting brand of rugby and just about every team seem to have them on the wing or you'll see them in the centres... but there are ever more Fijian loose forwards emerging also...very exciting times for Fiji as they already have a couple of teams playing in OZ...they also look like the strongest team in Oceania not to mention leading on the World Sevens circuit...Fiji are now in the top 10 in world rugby and only on the way up...Go Fiji

Yes Brycie Fiji has huge potential.

There are real stars in Fiji, Tonga and Samoa even New Guinea (Papua) but they are so small be that as it may they certainly make up for it...huge accolade Fiji (a minute island) winning gold in Olympic Sevens.

Another great rugby nation is Georgia ( also a minute state of the previous USSR)...incidentally they went on a tour last year and played the lot without one loss...in fact away they beat both Tonga and Samoa and drew with Fiji... another sleeping giant/minnow in rugby...watch out in the Japan they might even break the pool stage.

The current TV contract with Sanzaar runs uo till 2020 and nothing is going to change until 2021 - so what is going on now is mere guessing.   

I think that under certain conditions DSTV may remain interested - but with their major financial interests in China  - may want a Chinese Team involved.    Since they are basically funding the whole series they normally get their way.         

3 aussie teams plus a Fijian team with Samoan/Tongan props the Jags and 5 each from NZ and SA .It would keep it manageable and keep everyone happy .The spare Aussies could help bulk out their teams and maybe the Sunnies.