Super 18 downsize imminent
Sanzaar hopes to be in a position by Monday to announce three teams will be culled from Super Rugby.
More than a month after a meeting in London where Sanzaar partners agreed in principal to push ahead with New Zealand’s preference for a 15-team competition, and still those teams facing the axe are no clearer about their respective futures.
High-powered meetings in South Africa took place this week but no official word about Super Rugby has emerged. It is understood final decisions have been delayed by widespread protests surrounding president Jacob Zuma.
But with broadcast and attendances dwindling, the Rand being further downgraded and financial pressures biting the six franchises there, the South African Rugby Union is expected to cut two teams, likely to be the Southern Kings and Cheetahs.
The Australian Rugby Union is, meanwhile, expected to meet this weekend and the Western Force remain the most vulnerable.
While Sanzaar is hopeful of announcing the number of teams for next year by Monday, the respective national unions may take more time to confirm which sides will be axed. And there is sure to be major kickback from those franchises.
A consultation period would be required but a return to a 15-team competition would probably see the format revert to three conferences, with Japan’s Sunwolves joining Australia and Argentina’s Jaguares in the South African group.
Under that structure previously, prior to the Kings, Sunwolves and Jaguares being added, teams played two rounds of local derbies, followed by four games against opposition from the other two conferences.
Historical concerns centred on the inequality of the conferences and, thus, prospects in particular of Kiwi teams making the playoffs.
There was also feedback from New Zealand players that, given their intensely combative nature, eight local derbies was too many.