Global 10s has take-off

Super Rugby’s global 10s tournament will be officially launched next month, with signoff on the remaining contracts imminent.

The two-day, 10-a-side tournament billed as the Brisbane Global 10s will be staged at Suncorp Stadium on February 11-12 after Duco Events secured multimilliondollar Brisbane council and Queensland government funding for the next four years.

The event will feature 500 players, 14 teams from six countries, $NZ1.65 million in appearance fees and prizemoney and is expected to be broadcast in 20 different markets, including France and Sky Sports UK.

It is understood the five New Zealand and five Australian Super Rugby teams have signed contracts, as have Samoa, who have their Prime Minister’s backing, and Robbie Deans-coached Panasonic Wild Knights, who have won the past three Japanese Top League titles.

South Africa’s Bulls, three-time Super Rugby champions, and French powerhouse Toulon, who boast Ma’a Nonu, Bryan Habana, Matt Giteau, James O’Connor, Duane Vermeulen and Leigh Halfpenny among others, are likely be the last two teams.

Duco Events also organise the NRL Auckland Nines and promote Kiwi heavyweight boxing contender Joseph Parker.

‘‘To put a world first tournament of this quality together is a monumental undertaking. It’s been three years of hard slog,’’ Duco boss David Higgins said. ‘‘Along the way we’ve thought it was on again off again, due to the complexities of bringing together a global tournament. There are still contracts to be signed but it’s looking good.

‘‘If we pull this off, it’ll be the greatest rugby 10s tournament by some measure; a home run on club, player, venue quality, broadcast reach, audience reach and prizemoney. It’s unprecedented.

‘‘The last six months I’ve been living out of a suitcase. Trying to put this together has taken me to France, UK, South Africa, Japan, Singapore, Samoa and back again. I was even in Papua New Guinea