The reported agreement between the three SANZAR partners on the continuation and expansion of the Super Rugby competition, after last week’s give-and-take negotiations in Dublin, are certain to upset South Africa’s so-called smaller provincial unions.
The Afrikaans Sunday Paper Rapport reports that the 14 provincial unions will be informed on Monday that South Africa’s concessions, in what was a stalemate, include an investigation to reduce the Premier Division Currie Cup competition by two to six sides; forfeiting (at least) one of the annual incoming Tests before the Tri-Nations series and agreeing to the start of the proposed Super 15 only at the end of February and not earlier in the month.
Before last week’s meeting, the other two partners of SANZAR, New Zealand and Australia, were not prepared to start playing in February – and they insisted that the Super series be enlarged to include 15 sides.
With the proposed conference system, whereby each country will play its own league phase of the Super 15 before the six sides – the top two from each conference – then meet in a play-off series, the Currie Cup competition would have been compromised.
There was also a proposal that the Super 15 would continue throughout the Tri-Nations competition.
These proposals were unacceptable to South Africa, and threats about obtaining other partners for revised competitions were made to and fro by the three partners.
The exclusion, if that is approved, of two more of the non-franchise unions from the Currie Cup Premier Division is certain to upset the smaller unions.
Playing in the Premier Division is a way for those two teams to earn some income from gate money when they host the bigger unions.
However, in reality, their contribution to the competition over the past number of years has been limited to providing some second-stringers on loan from the bigger unions a look-in at the big time, and to cause the odd surprise in the league.
With the Premier Division being reduced to six sides, the First Division will then be enlarged to eight sides – if of course the investigation finds this a feasible alternative to the present structure.
The smaller unions will not give up without a tremendous fight.
They have enough clout to make a real fight of it should it come to a vote at SARU.
According to Rapport, who quotes an unnamed “reliable” overseas source, it was agreed that the Super 14 will be expanded to a Super 15 in 2011 – and even if the additional side comes from South Africa, it will still be based in Australia and play their “home” matches there.
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With the proposed conference system, whereby each country will play its own league phase of the Super 15 before the six sides – the top two from each conference
This a different from the Aus version of what will happen.
Will be interesting to see what ACTUALLY happens.
I CAN tell you the smaller unions will kick up a MOERSE fuss if they get excluded.
Current CC teams are
Boland
Blue Bulls
Cheetahs
Griquas
Leopards
Lions
Sharks
WP
If it has to be reduced to six it will be
Blue Bulls
Cheetahs
Kings
Lions
Sharks
WP
Here comes an admin timebomb.
f*ck em… the tail has wagged the dog for far too long in SA Rugby. Time to put these little whipper-snappers back in their respective boxes.
@robdylan (Comment 3) : I agree, and if they don’t like it, then pull out of SARU and form a super union and see how long the smaller unions will be around they will all be bankrupt within a year. I am all for smaller unions and development, but not to the degree that they dictate what goes down in SA rugby which is exactly what happens. I still believe that Rugby would be better off if it became a public company and people could buy shares and own it, but that is a pipe dream that will never be allowed. Imagine a mr Abromovitch buying the lions and putting in a decent coach and players 😆 As I say pipe dream.
@Whindy (Comment 4) :
isn’t this why my suggestion is the best for sa. but i suppose it is too logical.
So after much bitching and moaning Marinos eventually hunkered down, dropped his rods and took it up the crapper.
Nice one boys.
Still wondering where the compromise came from Australia’s side Andy?
They get an extra team, they get more superRugby.
We screw our smaller unions, lose a mid-year test and will sit watching a minimum of 4 local derbies each year, with a maximum of 6.
JON made you his bitch Andy Marinos.