Relations with NZR at lowest ebb, Rugby Australia chairman says
RUGBY
MELBOURNE: Relations between southern hemisphere rugby powers Australia and New Zealand have plunged to their ‘‘lowest ebb’’ but can be repaired if the nations work together to shape the future of the game, Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan says.
Australia and New Zealand have been at loggerheads in recent months, trading barbs over the 2021 format for Super Rugby and the scheduling of the fournation Rugby Championship.
The breakdown in relations has come amid financial pressures due to the Covid19 pandemic and uncertainty over the future of southern hemisphere competition following South Africa’s decision to pull teams from Super Rugby.
‘‘There is respect there but the relationship is at probably the lowest ebb it's ever been at,’’ McLennan told New Zealand broadcaster Sky Sports.
‘‘But I’m trying my hardest to fix that over time.
‘‘I think the fundamental issue from us is that [New Zealand] have got to respect our position.’’
McLennan said Australia had been ‘‘greatly offended’’ when New Zealand Rugby announced midyear it planned to organise a 2021 tournament involving its five Super Rugby teams without consulting its southern hemisphere partners.
He said Australia was willing to regard that as ‘‘water under the bridge’’, however, and was committed to forming a transtasman competition with New Zealand.
‘‘I think Covid’s throwing up a whole lot of issues.
‘‘I’m not sure where that’s going to land but, ultimately, we’ve got a really powerful Anzac block that we should be leveraging, working together,’’ he said.
‘‘We’ve got to work together to see how we leverage our strength on the global stage.
‘‘Money’s tough at the moment and that’s why we've got to get the TRC (Rugby Championship) away.
‘‘We’re just going to battle our way through it.’’
New Zealand Rugby has responded to South Africa’s plans to ditch Super Rugby, saying it wasn’t surprised at the decision.
The South African Rugby Union confirmed it has voted to explore moving the Bulls, Stormers, Sharks, and Lions into an expanded Pro16 competition in Europe.
If approved, they would take the place of the Cheetahs and Southern Kings who have been playing in the current Pro14 competition for three seasons with little success.
South Africa Rugby Union chief executive Jurie Roux said his union wouldn’t have been taking this decision but for NZR’s push for a domestic, transtasman or Pacific competition in response to the Covid19 pandemic.
Roux said New Zealand’s decision made it impossible to deliver the 14team Super Rugby competition that had been agreed by the partners and for which fiveyear broadcasting agreements had been signed.
NZR chief executive Mark Robinson said South Africa’s position was ‘‘no surprise’’.
It had signalled for some time it was looking at aligning with the northern hemisphere season,’’ Robinson said.
‘‘All of the Sanzaar partners had agreed to look at more domestically related competitions in 2020 and 2021. During times like these change is inevitable and we need to be willing to adapt quickly.
‘‘We were thrilled with how Super Rugby Aotearoa was received this year and are excited about what is shaping up for 2021.’’
NZR and its South African counterpart will still be working together closely through Sanzaar, with Roux saying South Africa is committed to the Sanzaar partnership and participation in the Rugby Championship.
Meanwhile, NZR is working on its own plans for its Super Rugby Aotearoa competition, with plans for a sixteam competition in 2021. — Reuters/The New Zealand Herald