In a candid revelation on the DSPN podcast hosted by Martin Devlin, Brent Impey, former chair of New Zealand Rugby, detailed the complexities that led to the exit of South African teams from Super Rugby—a decision that reshaped the southern hemisphere's rugby landscape. The departure of heavyweight teams like the Bulls, Lions, Sharks, and Stormers in 2020, has been a focal point of discussion, particularly concerning the impacts on the prowess of the All Blacks and Wallabies.
Impey's tenure at the helm of NZ Rugby coincided with critical negotiations about the future of Super Rugby. He outlined three major factors that precipitated the split. "Firstly, the advent of Covid-19 halted travel between the continents, significantly impacting the logistics of the competition," Impey explained. This issue was compounded by the soaring costs of air travel, rendering the participation of not only South African teams but also Argentina's Jaguares, financially untenable.
"The South Africans made it completely uneconomic and had we gone ahead with that deal, New Zealand Rugby would have had to subsidize not only Australia and Argentina, which South Africa and us had done for years in a very free and open manner, to having to subsidize the lot. We simply couldn't afford that."
Moreover, a longstanding desire of South African teams to align with the northern hemisphere's club season also played a role. However, the definitive 'killer blow' was dealt when SuperSport, a major broadcaster in South Africa, shifted the payment currency from US dollars to the rand. "From 1995 right through to 2020, all of Super Rugby and SANZAAR negotiations and television had been in US dollars," Impey noted. The drastic depreciation of the rand against the New Zealand dollar over 25 years made the financial model unsustainable.
Since their departure from Super Rugby, the South African franchises have joined the United Rugby Championship and have been integrated into European competitions like the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup. Despite these changes, the Springboks remain a stalwart presence in the Rugby Championship, continuing their rivalry with southern hemisphere teams.
Impey also criticized the media's coverage of the economic dimensions of sports, suggesting a gap in reporting on the business considerations that underpin such decisions. As the saga of Super Rugby continues to unfold, the economic and strategic shifts highlighted by Impey offer a deeper understanding of the evolving dynamics in international rugby.
The story of Super Rugby's restructuring is a poignant reminder of the complex interplay between sports, economics, and global events. As stakeholders in the rugby community look to the future, the lessons learned from the past will undoubtedly shape the strategies of tomorrow.
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In a candid revelation on the DSPN podcast hosted by Martin Devlin, Brent Impey, former chair of New Zealand Rugby, detailed the complexities that led to the exit of South African teams from Super Rugby—a decision that reshaped the southern hemisphere's rugby landscape. The departure of heavyweight teams like the Bulls, Lions, Sharks, and Stormers in 2020, has been a focal point of discussion, particularly concerning the impacts on the prowess of the All Blacks and Wallabies.
Impey's tenure at the helm of NZ Rugby coincided with critical negotiations about the future of Super Rugby. He outlined three major factors that precipitated the split. "Firstly, the advent of Covid-19 halted travel between the continents, significantly impacting the logistics of the competition," Impey explained. This issue was compounded by the soaring costs of air travel, rendering the participation of not only South African teams but also Argentina's Jaguares, financially untenable.
"The South Africans made it completely uneconomic and had we gone ahead with that deal, New Zealand Rugby would have had to subsidize not only Australia and Argentina, which South Africa and us had done for years in a very free and open manner, to having to subsidize the lot. We simply couldn't afford that."
Moreover, a longstanding desire of South African teams to align with the northern hemisphere's club season also played a role. However, the definitive 'killer blow' was dealt when SuperSport, a major broadcaster in South Africa, shifted the payment currency from US dollars to the rand. "From 1995 right through to 2020, all of Super Rugby and SANZAAR negotiations and television had been in US dollars," Impey noted. The drastic depreciation of the rand against the New Zealand dollar over 25 years made the financial model unsustainable.
Since their departure from Super Rugby, the South African franchises have joined the United Rugby Championship and have been integrated into European competitions like the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup. Despite these changes, the Springboks remain a stalwart presence in the Rugby Championship, continuing their rivalry with southern hemisphere teams.
Impey also criticized the media's coverage of the economic dimensions of sports, suggesting a gap in reporting on the business considerations that underpin such decisions. As the saga of Super Rugby continues to unfold, the economic and strategic shifts highlighted by Impey offer a deeper understanding of the evolving dynamics in international rugby.
The story of Super Rugby's restructuring is a poignant reminder of the complex interplay between sports, economics, and global events. As stakeholders in the rugby community look to the future, the lessons learned from the past will undoubtedly shape the strategies of tomorrow.