Trans-Tasman rift set to reopen
New Zealand Rugby’s bargaining position on Super Rugby and the readiness of two potential new Pasifika franchises is causing growing frustration in Australia as last year’s Trans-Tasman rugby row appears destined for a messy sequel.
NZ Rugby and Rugby Australia had indicated that agreement on the future of Super Rugby could be reached by late June, but that is now an optimistic deadline after Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan told Stuff that significant differences remain.
There is no agreement on how the rights and revenue for the competition are to be shared, what the competition looks like, and whether Moana Pasifika and Fijian Drua can stand up over the longer-term, while talks have left Rugby Australia feeling undervalued – despite their recognition that the Australian sides need to improve.
‘‘Trans-Tasman currently feels pretty imbalanced,’’ McLennan said. ‘‘We’re not changing our five teams so we need to work out an equitable attribution to running the competition. New Zealand’s [TV] ratings went up during TransTasman, whilst ours went down.’’
The Super Rugby AU final between the Reds and Brumbies in May attracted more than 400,000 viewers in Australia at its peak, while early figures for the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman final between the Blues and Highlanders indicated an audience in the mid-70,000 range across the ditch.
There are also strong reservations in Australia about the Moana Pasifika and Fijian Drua franchises – which have been driven by NZ Rugby – around their readiness and sustainability.
Super Rugby teams cost about $10 million a year to run, meaning that over the course of just one five-year broadcast deal the two new franchises will require a combined $100 million in funding.
When asked if the new franchises would work, McLennan said: ‘‘We like the idea of including Fiji and Pasifika but we’re not sure how it’s going to be fully funded over the long term.’’
Rugby Australia has also consistently raised question marks about the competitiveness of the new teams, particularly for 2022.
Although most New Zealand Super Rugby sides have completed the bulk of their recruitment and retention for 2022, neither Moana Pasifika nor the Fijian Drua have even announced a head coach.
NZ Rugby angered Rugby Australia last year by effectively asking it to ditch two or three Super Rugby sides to be part of New Zealand-run competition, and McLennan repeatedly said that the relationship between the countries was ‘‘at its lowest ebb’’.
The diplomatic situation has thawed since then but is in danger of sliding backwards once more if Rugby Australia feels it has been presented with an offer that it perceives as undervaluing its worth to New Zealand rugby.
Rugby Australia is thought to be looking at a conference model for Super Rugby Trans-Tasman, in which Moana Pasifika will join the New Zealand side of the draw and Fijian Drua the Australian side – if the new franchises stack up.
The winners from each conference would then face each other in the final, guaranteeing that one side from the Australian conference would be in the final.
That would raise questions about the integrity of the competition, given New Zealand’s dominance of Super Rugby TransTasman, but underscores RA’s reluctance to walk away from the domestic competition that revived interest in the Australian game this year.
‘‘The RA board is divided on the best competition structure and we need some time to think it through,’’ McLennan said. ‘‘[RA chief executive] Andy [Marinos] has some innovative ideas on a new, suitable competition.’’
A row over Super Rugby would come at a delicate time for NZ Rugby, who have recently appointed a new chairman, Stewart Mitchell, and are juggling a number of issues.
NZ Rugby is thought to be in final stages of its deal with private equity company Silver Lake, which also requires the blessing of the provincial unions and the players’ union.
However, a failure to land a full trans-Tasman Super Rugby competition would frustrate New Zealand players, coaches and Super Rugby clubs, who have repeatedly urged NZ Rugby to establish a roundrobin, 10- or 12-team format for 2022 and beyond.
A full Trans-Tasman competition provides more content to Sky in New Zealand (five games a weekend compared to two) and the strength of the Kiwi sides means fans remain engaged for longer in the competition.
However, that preferred outcome is now in real danger.