As we have all seen in the news of late, 2016 with see a revamp of the Super Rugby format we have learnt to enjoy. A revamp, I feel which will repeal rugby fanatics and give those who have yet to give Super Rugby a chance, even more reason to stay well away. Why do I say this?
Super Rugby Expansion
SANZAR had announced and approved the 2016 expansion earlier this year. After much speculation of who the new teams would be, and where they would come from, the ultimate decision should come as no surprise in the end. In most sports, money does the talking and Super Rugby has proved it is no cheap date.
If we all cast our minds back to the Super Rugby season of 2013, South Africa found themselves with six teams but only five places to fill. The EP Kings from the Eastern Cape and the Lions from Gauteng battled it out for the 5th position and ultimately the Kings won. What followed was probably one of the worst Super Rugby campaigns that I remember, with the Kings being branded as a “joke” and an “embarrassment” to South African rugby. It really was no surprise when they lost their position back to the Lions for the 2014 season. So why do I mention this?
The new, expanded competition will see 18 teams taking part. Five teams coming from Australia and New Zealand respectively, but six from South Africa! Argentina will provide one team, with the final team coming from either Singapore or Japan. Six teams seem outrageous for a country that, in all honesty, does not have enough skilled players to fill six teams (as they have already shown). Yet, they are given them for the simple reason that South Africa brings in the biggest amount of money in broadcasting revenue and ticket sales. More money means they are able to demand a 6th team and receive it.
The 18th team is being determined not by countries that have a deep, rich history of rugby or an immense amount of talented players that are happily swept up by teams worldwide for their skill and speed. Instead, they are determined by countries with the money. When you hear the names Japan and Singapore, you don’t think rugby straight away or at all, yet this is where we will get our last team from. However, when you hear of places like Samoa, Fiji and Tonga, you think of great players like Jack Lam, Faifili Levave, Nemani Nadolo and Siale Piutau.
Yet, the Pacific Islands have, yet again, been completely overlooked when it comes to the expansion, as they have been many times in the past when it comes to playing international rugby in general. Despite having many players in teams worldwide, showcasing the pedigree of rugby that comes from these passionate, rugby playing nations, they are unable to provide the revenue that SANZAR as a whole as well as the independent rugby unions of New Zealand, Australia and South Africa are looking for. Asian based teams have the money and the added advantage coming from their geographic position. The travelling time for teams from mainly South Africa will be cut immensely, meaning the Pacific Islands really had no chance of winning any votes in this category either. Super Rugby is very demanding, but surely it would make more sense to cut the competition length instead of travelling time? Travelling is part of the job; something that has to be done but playing 20 consecutive weeks of rugby is considered the normal aspect?
Deciding on Japan or Singapore might sound easy enough, but these two nations are being handed a huge task to now try and achieve. Not only do they need to find players, coaches and executive members, they are now expected to deliver the expectation placed on them with regards to money and spectators. Gaining players and coaches however should not be too much of an issue for them. While they are lacking the required level of skill needed to contribute to Super Rugby in their native players, they are at no loss filling their teams with players from other countries, countries I have already mentioned – the Pacific Islands. Moving to these teams means the players are close enough to their own countries, allowing them to be readily available for international duties, at the same time denying European teams their services.
Ultimately, money has become the biggest factor in deciding where Super Rugby will go. The Pacific Islands will continue producing players who will have to leave their home nations in search of international opportunities, continue to be overlooked and despite the endless amounts of promises that they will be granted, the opportunity to host top playing nations for the simple fact that they are unable to pay what is wanted, and what is expected. It is a sad day when a sport you have grown to love is no longer determined by skill or passion, but rather by materialist gains filling someone else’s back pocket.
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