Now it’s time to get Fiji involved

THIS is the time to bring Fiji into Super Rugby.

The COVID-19 crisis has only exacerbated the serious financial strain of running a rugby tournament involving four nations spread so far apart. It is no longer feasible to run the proposed 14-team Super Rugby competition from 2021 with South Africa and Argentina — not even considering the potential for ongoing border closures because of the virus next year.

The only logical options are for Australia to be involved in a trans-Tasman tournament with New Zealand, or run a domestic comp featuring only local teams.

The broad consensus in Australia is for the trans-Tasman option; who doesn’t want to watch their team against Beauden Barrett, Ardie Savea, or the Crusaders?

But also, there is far less appeal from the broadcast market in a domestic tournament — they’re aware that the best Australian players will head overseas, which essentially means it will be a glorified club competition with no real superstars. Tough sell.

The problem is the Kiwis have been reticent to buy into the trans-Tasman idea.

They’re still mulling the prospect of their own expanded domestic tournament, with some across the ditch believing those derbies will rate higher than matches against Australian teams.

It has been suggested to Rugby Australia by some Kiwi heavyweights that they should have only three teams — an idea that England coach and former Wallabies mentor Eddie Jones said will benefit the game here.

But the key to any broadcast deal is content. How many games can you offer each week? The more content, the more money.

So, how many teams should Australia have in a trans-Tasman competition.

With whatever low-ball broadcast deal they can manage for 2021 and beyond, the answer is probably three.

But if Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest can personally fund the Western Force and become the hero who brought them back to Super Rugby, RA can have four teams but only pay for three.

This means the struggling Melbourne Rebels would probably have to merge with the Brumbies.

But still, the question of content remains, because nine teams (New Zealand has five established franchises) only gives you four games a week.

The 10th team should be Fijian Drua, the club that featured in Australia’s now defunct National Rugby Championship. And that gives you five games a week.

It would be a long overdue reward for the Pacific Islands to have representation.