Tournament proposal limits SA involvement

THE Australian Rugby Union must protect the nation’s five Super Rugby teams, even if it means forging a new competition with sides from New Zealand and Asia and limiting South Africa’s involvement, former ARU chairman Peter McGrath said this week.

During his tenure from 2007-12, McGrath oversaw the introduction of Australia’s fifth side, the Melbourne Rebels, into Super Rugby in 2011, five years after Perth-based Western Force joined the tournament.

Neither of the expansion sides have made the playoffs and have proved a heavy financial burden for the ARU.

Super Rugby’s governing body San zaar flagged changes to the competition’s unwieldy 18-team format, but kept them under wraps pending final consultation with stakeholders, prompting speculation that at least one Australian team could be cut.

Prominent former Wallabies players and media pundits have argued that Australia has neither the funds nor the depth of talent to field five teams, but McGrath said turning back the clock was not the answer.

“I think it’s absolutely fundamental that we keep five teams and the ARU should be ensuring that,” the Canberra-based lawyer said.

“I totally disagree that we do not have enough talent. I believe we do have enough.

“People need to take a back seat and ask ‘What’s in the best interests of Australian rugby?’ The other [San zaar] unions from New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina will be doing exactly the same.”

The Super Rugby competition, which was already a sprawling tournament of long-haul flights between South Africa, Australia and New Zealand grew even bigger last year with teams from Japan and Argentina also coming on board.

The shake-up also included the introduction of a confusing conference system that critics have blamed for lowering the standard of competition.

McGrath said that if Australia could not afford five teams in the current format it should set up a new tournament with New Zealand and Asian sides in a more friendly timezone and only involve South African teams during the playoffs.

It might mean forgoing some broadcast dollars due to South Africa’s reduced involvement, but the cost savings would make it viable, the 62-year-old said. – Reuters