SA exit talk raises concerns for NZR
OPINION: Reports of a South African Super Rugby exit may be greatly exaggerated, but they should also be hugely concerning for New Zealand rugby’s mover and shakers.
Southern hemisphere rugby collective Sanzaar has rubbished a Welsh report that current South African Super Rugby franchises in the Sharks, Stormers and Lions are set to jump ship to the UK-based PRO14 competition, joining the Cheetahs and Kings who have already made the move.
This would effectively torpedo Super Rugby in its current format, leaving the competition to reform around a trans-Tasman power base. That would please the Aussies who have long held a desire to head down this track, but not Kiwi powerbrokers who understand the importance South Africa brings to the table.
The Sanzaar alliance, that includes New Zealand, South Africa, Australia and Argentina, is in the midst of a strategic review that it hopes will lay the roadmap for the future beyond the current TV deal that ends in 2020. And it is adamant it has buy-in and commitment from all member unions as it plots a path as far ahead as 2030.
‘‘Member unions have fully committed to the strategy and their future participation. Any talk of a change to the stakeholder relationship and partners withdrawing, creation of new teams in new markets and trans-Tasman competitions is unsubstantiated speculation and simply wrong,’’ said Sanzaar boss Andy Marinos via a statement. That’s a fairly emphatic response. But Marinos clearly doesn’t speak for South African rugby, and no doubt there is more to play out on this subject yet.
Plus, you can’t help but think with things like this, where there is smoke there is fire. Inevitably, with two teams already in the PRO14 competition, South African rugby bosses will be assessing the success or otherwise of that relationship, and at some stage will face a decision on possibly extending it.
There is no suggestion the South Africans are about to turn their backs on Super Rugby. Everything they’ve been saying publicly continues to indicate they remain committed to the southern alliance’s flagship competition.
But it would be naive to think that they’re not at least tempted by a more substantial move into Europe, where they would be playing in more agreeable time-zones and potentially generating greater broadcast revenue.
There are also potential symmetries with the big numbers of South African players already plying their trade in the north. It is, and will continue to be, an intriguing possibility for them.
So New Zealand rugby chiefs are well with their rights to be a little concerned.
Super Rugby, and potentially also its test match offshoot the Rugby Championship, would be a severely weakened product without South African involvement. It is the Saffas, and not the Aussies, who keep us New Zealanders honest.
And most importantly any paredback competition would also face the very real prospect of generating substantially less broadcasting revenue. It simply would be a far inferior product.
This, from a New Zealand perspective, would be a disaster.
New Zealand Rugby needs every penny it generates to retain the vast majority of its top players in this country.
Any reduction in broadcasting revenue, which represents a healthy share of the overall financial pie, would severely impact our ability to retain our stars, and by extension for our teams, at both Super Rugby and test level, to remain the best in the world.
So, all things considered, it might be timely for New Zealand rugby bosses to sidle up to their South African counterparts and give them a bit of a cuddle.
A Super Rugby competition with only the awful Aussies to keep us honest does not bear thinking about. And a broadcasting deal which reflects that, and does not take in the vast South African market, is equally unpalatable.
Right now might be a good time to remind South Africa their role in the southern rugby alliance is not only highly valued, but deeply appreciated.
‘‘Member unions have fully committed to the strategy and their future participation.’’
Sanzaar boss Andy Marinos