Super news for the fans
REPORTS which suggest that the format for Super Rugby could be changed in time for next season will have gladdened the hearts of many, if not most, rugby fans. Last season for the first time the competition was expanded to accommodate an additional South African franchise, an Argentinian side and a Japanese team, bringing the number of participants to 18. With it came a format change. Instead of a league format in which teams played all of the other sides, conferences were decided on, which meant that a South African side like the Stormers could reach the play-offs without having to face any of the traditionally strong New Zealand sides.
The strength of teams will vary from year to year, so it is not to say that the Stormers would necessarily have an easy time of it against other South African opposition, but pity the New Zealand teams that have to play all their Kiwi rivals twice a season in the current format.
In a sense, including the Jaguares from Argentina, who can field a near-international line-up, and the Sunwolves from Japan, representing a rising power in the game (whisper it: “Don’t mention that World Cup defeat!”) is good for the game.
In the planners’ minds expansion to Fiji was even on the cards.
This expansion – predicated perhaps on the well-meaning notion of spreading the gospel of the game, growing audiences and bringing more money into rugby – has, however, served to dilute what had been recognised as the toughest noninternational rugby competition on the planet.
It has to be recognised that it is not the simplest thing to do to revert to a 15-team competition instead of the present 18, given that certain guarantees will have been provided in the multimillion-rand TV deals around the competition.
But news that some serious thought is being given to the shape and size of the competition, with possible implementation by next season, will have rugby fans pricking up their ears for the updates expected from the organising body this week.
Some of the current teams are doomed to struggle, and that cannot be in the best interests of a super competition.