Super Rugby revamp on cards

Change is coming to Super Rugby after Sanzaar executives – representatives from New Zealand, Argentina, South Africa and Australia – held ‘‘robust discussions’’ about the future of the 18-team competition.

New Zealand’s preference was understood to be for a 15-team model that retained Japanese team the Sunwolves and Argentina’s Jaguares, and involved South Africa dropping two sides and Australia one.

Changes, however, can only be made with unanimous agreement from all Sanzaar partners.

Sanzaar released a statement yesterday giving no indication of what the future holds, other than to say a direction would be soon be revealed.

The fate of Japan’s struggling Sunwolves is out of their hands as they are not a formal partner around the board table. But they are expected to survive on the basis of being a productive broadcast market. We’ve had some dialogue with New Zealand Rugby but none with Sanzaar and it seems they’re not particularly interested in that.

The Australian Rugby Union is thought to be open to dropping one team but choosing between the Perth-based Force and Melbourne Rebels would cause major ructions.

The broadcast agreement has been signed through to 2020 on the basis of 18 teams. Any tweaks, small or major, would need buy-in from the broadcasters who bankroll the competition.

Decisions have already been delayed by six months but there is a general acceptance the model as it stands is not working.

Even if a direction is given next week, New Zealand Rugby Players’ Association boss Rob Nichol indicated the players would need more time to have their say.

‘‘We’ve had some dialogue with New Zealand Rugby but none with Sanzaar and it seems they’re not particularly interested in that,’’ Nichol said.

‘‘It’s frustrating to see where we are at but once we find out what decisions are being made we’ll be spending the next three or four weeks talking with the players.’’