Trans-Tasman comp in turmoil as split emerges

NEW Zealand Rugby’s bargaining position on Super Rugby and the readiness of two potential new Pasifika franchises is causing growing frustration in Australia as last year’s trans-Tasman rugby row appears destined for a messy sequel.

NZ Rugby and Rugby Australia had previously indicated that agreement on the future of Super Rugby could be reached by late June, but that is now an optimistic deadline after Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan told Stuff that significant differences remain.

There is no agreement on how the rights and revenue for the competition are to be shared, what the competition looks like, and whether Moana Pasifika and Fijian

Drua can stand up over the longer-term, while talks have left Rugby Australia feeling undervalued – despite their recognition that the Australian sides need to improve.

“Trans Tasman currently feels pretty imbalanced,” McLennan said.

“We’re not changing our five teams so we need to work out an equitable attribution to running the competition. New Zealand’s (TV) ratings went up during Trans Tasman, whilst ours went down.”

The Super Rugby AU final between the Reds and Brumbies in May attracted more than 400k viewers in Australia at its peak, while early figures for the Super Rugby Trans Tasman final between the Blues and

Highlanders indicated an audience in the mid-70k range across the ditch.

There are also strong reservations in Australia about the Moana Pasifika and Fijian Drua franchises – which have been driven by NZ Rugby – around their readiness and sustainability.

Super Rugby teams cost about $10 million a year to run, meaning that over the course of just one five-year broadcast deal the two new franchises will require a combined $100 million in funding.

When asked if the new franchises would work, McLennan said: “We like the idea of including Fiji and Pasifika but we’re not sure how it’s going to be fully funded over the long term.”

Rugby Australia has also consistently raised question marks about the competitiveness of the new teams, particularly for 2022.

Although most New Zealand Super Rugby sides have already completed the bulk of their recruitment and retention for 2022, neither Moana Pasifika nor the Fijian Drua have even announced a head coach.

NZ Rugby angered Rugby Australia last year by effectively asking it to ditch two or three Super Rugby sides to be part of New Zealand-run competition, and McLennan repeatedly said that the relationship between the countries was “at its lowest ebb”.