United States also in S14 mix

[laura]

United States also in S14 mix
Fri, 18 Jul 2008 11:28

The United States is a surprise addition to the list of possible teams that could join the expanded SANZAR (South Africa, New Zealand and Australia Rugby) competitions from 2010.

The SANZAR bosses said Friday they wanted to expand the finals of the Super 14 championship from a top-four to a top-six play-off series from next year.

The board of SANZA said it would put forward the proposal to those countries for consideration.

They also discussed ideas for an overhaul of the competition's structure when Super Rugby is revamped - possibly from as early as 2010 - to expand the tournament from its current 14 teams.

Argentina, Japan, as well as the Pacific Island nations of Fiji, Samoa and Tonga have been linked to an expanded Super Rugby and Tri-Nations format.

However, Australian Rugby Union (ARU) boss John O'Neill dropped a bombshell when he said the United States (US) was also in the mix for a Super Rugby franchise.

"The first step next year is the expanded play-off finals series and perhaps as early as 2010 you could see an expanded Super Rugby competition," he said.

"There is the opportunity to bring additional teams in from the current territories, or given some of the conversations we've had with countries like the US and Japan, you wouldn't exclude Super Rugby teams being located in say Tokyo or Los Angeles.

"In the next four or five years you will see a transformed Super Rugby environment."

O'Neill said separate playing conferences within the Super Rugby competition would also be possible as the competition expanded, while the format of the six team play-offs is still being discussed.

South African Rugby (Pty) Ltd Managing Director Jonathan Stones said Super Rugby needed to evolve and support for extended play-offs was strong.

"We think we run the premier competitions, and we think it is incumbent on us to build on what we have," he said.

"It's about answering the calls we have had both from our spectators and our competition components."

The board acknowledged significant changes to the existing format would have an impact on the traditional Tri-Nations playing window used by SANZAR countries and may impact on other areas of the international schedule.

The broadcast deal that underwrites Super 14 is due to expire at the end of 2010.

The meeting, which included SANZAR chief executive and the SA Rugby Managing Director, Stones, O'Neill and New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) chief executive Steve Tew, concluded a three-day workshop in Perth.

AFP

http://www.rugby365.com/news/1034940.htm

[AndyS]

Bloody hell, maybe I'm psychic.

[laura]

Did you post this article already?

[AndyS]

No, just a discussion that was going on around the start of the month.

[Thequeerone]

So are you John O' Neil or who were you talking to ?

[AndyS]

Why this and not the powerball numbers?

[prop53]

Just stick with the Pacific Nations look after your own back yard first

[laura]

Tokyo, LA on Super 15 radar: SANZAR
AAP - July 18, 2008, 7:56 pm

Tokyo or Los Angeles could be part of a Super 15 by 2010 but the first step in spicing up Super rugby will be a six-team finals series from next year.

The Super 14's governing body SANZAR, made up of Australian, New Zealand and South African officials, announced the move as they eye a new broadcast deal from 2011.

The shift, which still needs to be rubber-stamped by each country's national body, will replace the current four-team playoff format, although the details of how it will work are yet to be nutted out.

"One of the ideas that we've been contemplating is going to a divisional or conference type structure which would ensure a finalist or a top six position for each of the countries," South African SANZAR boss Jonathan Stones said.

The move has come out of a three-day SANZAR workshop in Perth ahead of Saturday's Tri-Nations clash between Australia and South Africa.

Australian rugby supremo John O'Neill said further steps in revamping both the Super 14 and Tri-Nations were also on the agenda.

"Perhaps as early as 2010 you could see an expanded Super rugby competition," he said.

"We're taking the approach (that) nothing's in, nothing's out and there's the opportunity to bring additional teams in from the current territories ... or, given some of the conversations we've had with countries like USA and Japan, you wouldn't exclude Super rugby teams being located in say Tokyo or Los Angeles.

"The work going forward will be about timeframes and it might be you go to a Super 15 in a reasonably short timeframe and then aim to go to something like a Super 18 in a further period.

"The work that will be done in the next couple of months will get us to a point where on the same page ... and then able to talk to broadcasters and other important stakeholders.

"I think in the next four or five years you'll see a transformed Super rugby environment and possibly a transformed Tri-Nations environment."

Whether an expanded Tri-Nations would include emerging southern hemisphere powerhouse Argentina, though, remains to be seen.

"We've got to paint the reality picture here," NZRU boss Steve Tew said.

"They've got to be able to get their players out of the clubs in France in particular or they're not going to be competitive and that won't do them any good either."

Stones said the possibility of "accelerating" a new TV deal to bankroll southern hemisphere rugby had also been discussed.

Meanwhile, relations between SANZAR and the European unions - already strained by disagreements over the trialling of rugby's experimental laws - appear to have reached a new low over northern hemisphere sides sending second rate touring sides to play Test matches.

"There have been efforts made ... to ensure the sides that come south in the June window are the best sides available. We haven't seen manifestation of that yet," Stones said.

Asked if SANZAR's patience was running out, he said: "At some stage it has to."

Tokyo, LA on Super 15 radar: SANZAR Australian Sport - Yahoo!7 Sport

[slomo]

inforcers tour to the usa?........ larry would love that!!!

[James]

Just stick with the Pacific Nations look after your own back yard first

True. But if you are going to go to the effort of doing a job you may as well get it all done.

Two Conferences:

Conference 1:

Perth, 4 South African sides, Japan, Queensland and the Pacific Islanders.

Conference 2:

4 Kiwi teams, Sydney, the ACT and LA and an Argentine team.

The top four in each pool go into quarters then semis then final.

It would have a heck of a lot of teething problems but realistically surely transport-wise eastern Australia to South America or LA would only be the same distance as between NZ and SA. I've been trying to look it up but I can't get a clear idea of what it'd be like.

I think broadcasters will like the idea of a whole new South America, American and Japanese market and would consider putting more in to help make it work in the long run. I don't know. It might work.

[BLR]

Jeez, I have to put up with Tah fans at home games, I don't want to deal with yank fans!

[Thequeerone]

If the Yank Fans come over - the pollies will be lining up to greet em - the rugby fans we have met at RWCs know how to party

[BLR]

If the Yank Fans come over - the pollies will be lining up to greet em - the rugby fans we have met at RWCs know how to party

Well Budwieser has recently been brought my a Belgium beer company so the future does look bright in that aspect.

[shasta]

Why this and not the powerball numbers?

Good question Andy.

Just be sure to share them with all your friends here if you do get 'em in the future, though.

[LarryNJ]

No not LA, please put it on the East Coast. What's a few extra hours on a plane?

inforcers tour to the usa?........ larry would love that!!!

I'd make sure that there would be better bert pics.
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