Support is not guaranteed
Australian
RUGBY Australia will not simply rubber stamp the inclusion of Moana Pasifika and the Fijian Drua if it deems the bids unsuitable or contrary to Australian interests, Stuff understands, while they ultimately see a Super
Rugby ‘commission’ as the appropriate body to govern the trans-Tasman/Pacific competition.
The inclusion of Moana
Pasifika and the Fijian Drua franchises took another step forward this week when New Zealand Rugby announced they had been granted “conditional licences” for entry.
The announcement was welcomed by the Pasifika rugby community, but NZ Rugby CEO Mark Robinson sounded a note of caution and pointed out the need for Australian support.
“We just need further development of the business plan, looking at things like finalising investors and corporate structure that sits behind the teams, and we need to work with Rugby Australia on not only getting comfort with the teams, but the competition as well,” Robinson said.
“We’re in regular dialogue with Australia and it’s progressing quite well.”
Stuff has been told that Robinson’s sober tone was justified, with Rugby Australia also prepared to delay the entry of the new teams until 2023 if they feel the process has been rushed or would compromise the launch of the new competition in 2022.
coaching, management and players.
World Rugby has committed $2.3m in annual funding, guaranteed for an initial three-years, while the teams will split an expected $5m in broadcast revenue.
“That’s all commercially sensitive but, yeah, there will be an investment by New Zealand Rugby in that space,” NZ Rugby boss Mark Robinson confirmed.
“We’re really interested in the further development of the business plans for both teams and we’re continuing to work with Rugby Australia around their comfort levels and approval as well.
“There’s investment into the teams, understanding a bit more about their potential capital structure. All those things are the finals
The absence of Rugby Australia from the announcement on Wednesday cemented the fact that Moana Pasifika and the Fijian Drua’s inclusion has been driven by NZ Rugby, which set the criteria for the franchises.
However, they still need Australian sign-off. Rugby Australia’s strong oversight role was borne out of the robust discussions last year following NZ Rugby’s original plan for an eight or 10-team competition that would have seen at least one Australian team axed. NZ Rugby modified that format to accommodate five Australian teams, but in Australian minds the charged talks reinforced that a Super Rugby commission was needed to govern the new tournament.
Rugby Australia CEO Andy Marinos released a measured statement on Wednesday following the granting of the conditional licences.
“We look forward to continuing our engagement with NZR on this process as we plan towards 2022,” he said. “Once further conditions around the licences have been met, we look forward to formalising the composition of the teams in what will hopefully prove a new dawn for rugby in the region.”
In his previous role as head of Sanzaar, Marinos was known to be critical of Super Rugby’s expansion to 18 teams — a decision that happened before he took over. He was also running parts.
“There’s a bit of chicken and egg here too. Until we’re able to commit to an opportunity like this it’s hard for them to go out and have
Sanzaar when it rejected Fiji’s previous bid to join Super Rugby in 2018. Sanzaar’s reasons for knocking back Fiji three years ago are not clear, but Stuff has been told that Fiji’s bid at that time was polished but not without question marks.
In August last year, Marinos also told Stuff that he thought Super Rugby had lost its way, in part because it had become too big.
“First of all, it does remain a critical element of the player development and highperformance pathways, and it is inextricably linked to the success of the national teams,” Marinos told Stuff in an honest interview.
“But I guess my view on this is that I think over time we have tended to try and make Super Rugby the solution for domestic rugby in our markets, as opposed as to what it was initially set out to be.
“That was to provide a blockbuster top-end, very quick, short and impactful competition structure, that complemented the domestic structure in each of the countries, not took over the domestic structures.”
Stuff understands that Rugby Australia has been supplied with the new franchises’ business cases, and is now playing a waiting game to see if they can raise the necessary financial support before the June 30 deadline.
If they satisfy all the conditions laid down by NZ Rugby it would make it hard for Rugby Australia to block entry for Moana Pasifika and the Fijian Drua, but the Australians still appear determined to cast a critical eye over the bids with rugby undergoing a revival, but still delicate, across the ditch.
those conversations.
“Hopefully that gives enough impetus without guaranteeing everything but it sends a very strong signal that there will be a licence there should it proceed positively in the next couple of months.”
All Blacks centurion Ma’a Nonu, Steven Luatua and Vince Aso, who is out of favour at the Hurricanes, are some mooted players Moana Pasifika may chase while Tana Umaga and former Highlanders coach Aaron Mauger joined forces to coach the team’s inaugural match against NZ Maori last December. Realistically, luring the likes of Luatua back from Bristol will be a stretch as he would need to take a huge pay cut. Yet at least now both teams can start approaching coaches and players with some certainty.
“They’ve got ideas and plans and in place but until you actually create an opportunity it’s hard for them to go out and make those important decisions,” Robinson said. “We’re hearing different speculation about who those people might be and that’s really exciting - some great names bandied about. We look forward to seeing what progress they make in that space too.”
Perhaps more importantly in the context of a long-term vision, Moana Pasifika co-chairman Pelenato Sakalia offered assurances governance mistakes of the past won’t be repeated.
“We totally understand the complexities of our stakeholders. It’s not just Samoa and Tonga it’s the governments and the rugby unions and the players. We’ve had to ensure we’ve set up a business model and structure that addresses all the challenges we have,” Sakalia said.
“It’s well known there are governance challenges in the Pacific - just like it’s well known when it comes to money and commercial the Pacific find that challenging. We’ve had to design something that’s respectful of the role culture and status has in Pasifika. They sit at the apex. While we’ve got different stakeholders the trust is the thing that’s going to hold it all together.”
Getting two professional teams over the line would be a giant leap for the Pacific rugby and, indeed, the start of repaying a debt of gratitude to the great entertainers of the world game.