ARU CEO John O'Neill says South Africa's defection threat is a bluff

[jargan83]

ARU CEO John O'Neill says South Africa's defection threat is a bluff

May 11, 2009

Australian Rugby Union chief executive John O'Neill says South Africa's threat to defect to northern hemisphere competitions remains a bluff.

O'Neill and his Sanzar counterparts are trying to thrash out an agreement on a new-look Super rugby competition but have been stonewalled by South African demands in recent months.

The Sanzar board meet in Dublin this week and need to come up with a 2011 competition proposal for a new broadcasting deal to News Ltd and SuperSport by June 30.

O'Neill says he can't see how South Africa could "escape" to the north and it was more likely Australia and New Zealand would form their own trans-Tasman competition if the impasse continues.

"That's been a long-held bluff, in my view. From all the enquiries we've made, we believe there isn't an exit for them in the north," O'Neill said.

"What has happened is Australia and New Zealand, out of pure frustration, have worked on a trans-Tasman competition which does work, with five or six teams from Australia and five or six from New Zealand.

"It's a Super 10 or Super 12, played over two rounds, and bringing in Japan in a couple of years time. It's a pretty elegant solution.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...-23217,00.html

[mudskipper]

We're getting some real value from ARU CEO John O'Neil here... They'll get traction in Dublin or the ARU and NZRU will know the track to walk in 2011…

Unless the South Africans see it’s the 11th hour they can’t help themselves by emitting the same old bravado…

Farewell well SA… see you in the tri-nations...