Pacific Islands Super Rugby team under consideration

WELLINGTON: New Zealand Rugby is looking over a governmentcommissioned feasibility study on the establishment of a Pacific Islands Super Rugby team from 2020.

The report has been given to NZR, though it says because it was commissioned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Mfat) and shared with it confidentially, it cannot discuss it.

Newshub reports the study cost the taxpayer $80,000 and, under the plan, the team would be based in Suva and play some home games in Samoa, Tonga, Auckland and Sydney.

Former Samoan national coach Sir Bryan Williams believes if the team goes ahead, Pacific rugby will rise.

‘‘One of the things that’s been to the real detriment of Pacific Island rugby is the fact they’re not involved in Super Rugby. As a result, they can’t generate the sort of income all the other Super teams can. It’s sort of hand to mouth for those unions at the moment. If the team comes to pass it will be a significant boost for Pacific Island rugby.’’

Sir Bryan, himself of Samoan descent, claims a Pacific Super team would strengthen Samoa, Fiji and Tonga’s national teams.

He said the Samoans in particular had suffered by not having a Super Rugby presence and all the Island nations would benefit from a combined team.

‘‘We’ve seen the demise of Samoan rugby over the last five or so years. They’ve gone from seventh in the world to 16th. That’s not a good sign. It [a Pacific Super team] would give the players the right sort of competition week to week and generate the kind of income that will allow them [Tonga, Fiji and Samoa] to compete at the very top level. They [Pacific unions] get some grants from World Rugby, but not enough to compete at the top level of international rugby.’’

Sir Bryan also believed regular Super Rugby matches in the Pacific Islands would be ‘‘huge’’. It was hard to quantify what it would mean to young Pasifika fans watching their idols take on All Blacks, Wallabies and Springboks in their own backyards.

‘‘It would mean so much. The Pacific Islanders love their rugby anyway and to see that sort of level of rugby on a weektoweek basis in the Islands would just be huge for the young fans and their hopes and dreams for the future.’’ — RNZ