General Kiwi update (initially "Major Sanzar deals close")

[AndyS]

By MARC HINTON (http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/i...ar-deals-close)

Two key rugby announcements that will have a major impact on the future of the game could be only a matter of weeks away.

The new broadcasting deal between Sanzar - the alliance comprising New Zealand, Australia and South Africa - and News Limited is by all reports in the final stages of the negotiation process and should be signed off in weeks, rather than months.

And the proposal to have Argentina join the existing three countries in an enlarged Four-Nations southern hemisphere competition is also a lot further down the track than most people realise.

A meeting of chief executives of all the major rugby-playing nations in Los Angeles later this month is expected to go a long way to making the Pumas addition to the existing Tri-Nations competition a reality.

"We're still working with the IRB and Argentina and hopefully will draw some conclusions around the possibility of the Tri-Nations becoming the Four-Nations very soon," NZRU chief executive Steve Tew told Stuff at this week's Super 14 launch in Auckland.

Tew said the IRB-led chief executives meeting in Los Angeles in a few weeks would discuss the international programme for 2012 and beyond, and it is expected to go a long way to setting in place the future tours schedule.

The Sanzar nations are keen to upgrade the Tri-Nations with Argentina's inclusion, and a recent agreement from French clubs that they would not stand in their players' way was considered a major breakthrough to making that a reality.

Officials are keeping tightlipped on the all-important broadcasting deal which will lock up the major revenue source for the southern hemisphere unions for 2011 and beyond.

But it's understood a positive result has been achieved and that the agreement only needed finer details to be sorted out before it was ready.

Tew wasn't giving too much away at this week's Super 14 launch, other than to say he hoped an announcement would be out soon and that things were looking pretty positive for a deal that all parties were happy with.

Reports have suggested the new deal could be worth as much as US$400 million (NZ$560m) over five years, which would be a US$77m (NZ$108m) increase on the previous agreement. And the new process which leaves individual countries to negotiate separate revenues for their domestic product (national championships and inbound tests) is expected to enhance the NZRU's position.

The NZRU is expected to announce a major loss when it unveils this year's balance sheet, but that has been widely anticipated given the economic downturn and costs associated with staging next year's World Cup. That position is expected to turn around sharply post-2011.

Tew was also not pushing any panic buttons at this stage around reports that Australia's new Super rugby team, the Melbourne Rebels, could be about to launch a serious raid on New Zealand talent as it looks to fill its roster for its 2011 debut.

"There's a danger pressure might come on some of our talent, but I don't think it's going to be a significant issue for us," said Tew. "There may be some slippage around the fringes, but that's inevitable when a competition grows."

The NZRU boss also underlined that the policy of not picking All Blacks from beyond New Zealand's shores remained set in stone, with no prospect for a change in thinking.

"We believe very firmly one of critical issues for us is having our players playing in our domestic competitions and those guys being rewarded with the All Black jersey. They're the guys who have made the commitment to our game, they've stayed here and played in front of our fans, for our teams, and we think it's important to keep that incentive."

The only potential change to that policy could come in enlarging the selection criteria to include all teams in Super rugby, but Tew said that was not something on the agenda at this stage.

Meanwhile, Tew expressed his sympathies for All Black Ali Williams' season-ending Achilles tendon injury, but wasn't quite guaranteeing the stricken Blues second-rower alternative employment during his convalescence period.

All Blacks coach Graham Henry had reportedly been keen for Williams to stay involved in the game in some capacity after his injury in the Blues' pre-season clash against the Chiefs last Friday meant he would miss the greater part of his second straight season.

But Tew said Williams' No 1 priority had to be his rehabilitation as he confronts at least six months out of the game while he recovers from his second bout of Achilles tendon surgery.

"This is a prolonged break, and he's going to need something to do," said Tew. "I wouldn't speculate yet on what that might be, but certainly we'll have a chat to him once he's in position to do so.

"The priority for him is rehab, and maybe a role around the Auckland environment or Blues most obviously. We used a number of our injured players last year around events and functions, and they added some value."

Williams took his NZRU-approved sabbatical last year during his recovery period from his first Achilles tendon surgery. Henry has suggested his expertise in the lineout area could be tapped into during his absence over the next six months or so.

[Burgs]

"Ali Williams leads the Rebel charge"???

Loving the proximity to los Pumas joining the action but hope they don't go the lazy way of just calling it the Four Nations
"Great Southern" or "Southern Cross" or something to give it a bit of character surely?

[TOCC]

"Ali Williams leads the Rebel charge"???

Loving the proximity to los Pumas joining the action but hope they don't go the lazy way of just calling it the Four Nations
"Great Southern" or "Southern Cross" or something to give it a bit of character surely?

well no, changing the name of a product which historically has a pretty good reputation is a backwards step, obviously they will be changing the name from 3 to 4 nations, but changing it to some completely different name is a bit silly because there will be plenty of people asking what they hell is this new "southern cross" rugby comp.

[AndyS]

Except that there is already four nations league and that would be still more confusing. Southern Nations perhaps?

[Burgs]

With respect TOCC, you must hang with some dumbarse people if they can't cope with that major quantum leap in branding!
A: “What the fuck is “insert new name”???
B: “It’s the expanded Southern Hemisphere Rugby Nations Test Comp.”
A: “Oh, ok then.”

[Darren]

I agree with TOCC here - "Tri Nations" is the brand - if they're to change it, "Quad Nations" may be an option to keep the theme going (although it sounds a bit odd to me). "4 Nations" is too similar to 6 Nations and a whole new name is a whole new brand - there'd be loss of recognotion and history.

"Southern Nations" may be an option as it keeps a common word and allows for expansion without name change should pacific nations (one, combined or more) join in the fun...

[James]

Why don't they just change it to the Try-Nations. Where you are disqualified from a game if someone in your team doesn't score a try. Thus condemning South Africa to be perennial losers.

[TOCC]

With respect TOCC, you must hang with some dumbarse people if they can't cope with that major quantum leap in branding!
A: “What the fuck is “insert new name”???
B: “It’s the expanded Southern Hemisphere Rugby Nations Test Comp.”
A: “Oh, ok then.”

Burgs, adding "with respect" to a comment like that doesnt make it any less spitefull.

Why is it do you think Burgs that companies like Apple keep the name Ipod, or that we see car manufacturers recycle the same model name like Commodore and Ford for decades.

One closer to home for you, why does Bankwest operate under its own name still even though it was bought out by the Commonwealth Bank in 2008?

Its about a products reputation, something which is extremely hard to build up and if you have a solid base then you will try to maintain that. Why do you think Super14 rugby when it expands in 2011 is purely going to be known as Super Rugby, ditching the number means they will be able to expand in future years without having to continually change the name.

Comeon burgs, seriously your smarter then that.

[Burgs]

You misrepresent me by referring to spite TOCC, it was bewilderment.
There are also no shortage of examples of rebranding for far greater success too.
The examples you give are all good ones for products that are in a competitive marketplace, which Rugby Union isn't. Yes there are other sports, to save that rebuttal, but there is only one Rugby Union of that level.
There is an annual competition that occurs involving the top three (and soon to be four) rugby nations in the Southern Hemisphere.
I'm quietly confident that 99% of the existing supporter base would be able to join the dots and in the meantime we are given the opportunity to have perhaps a more marketable name.
As Telecom became Telstra then "perhaps" Tri Nations could become Southern Nations. Such a move would allow them to expand in future years without having to continually change the name.

[TOCC]

You misrepresent me by referring to spite TOCC, it was bewilderment.
There are also no shortage of examples of rebranding for far greater success too.
The examples you give are all good ones for products that are in a competitive marketplace, which Rugby Union isn't. Yes there are other sports, to save that rebuttal, but there is only one Rugby Union of that level.
There is an annual competition that occurs involving the top three (and soon to be four) rugby nations in the Southern Hemisphere.
I'm quietly confident that 99% of the existing supporter base would be able to join the dots and in the meantime we are given the opportunity to have perhaps a more marketable name.
As Telecom became Telstra then "perhaps" Tri Nations could become Southern Nations. Such a move would allow them to expand in future years without having to continually change the name.

sigh, mate what can i say, if you havent realised by now that professional sport is a competitive marketplace then you never will.

Southern Cross or Great Southern were pretty shitty names as well

[Thequeerone]

Northern Hemisphere has expanded from Triple Crown to 6 Nations no problem - there is a bit of spice for the old competition as well as the new

[TOCC]

Northern Hemisphere has expanded from Triple Crown to 6 Nations no problem - there is a bit of spice for the old competition as well as the new

no, the triple crown is just a trophy within the 6 nations(previously the 5 nations), much like the mandela plate or bledisloe cup within the tri-nations.

5 nations has been a almost annual event for 100 years, except for a break in 1932-1939 in which is was just the home nations(british isle). It was expanded to the 6 nations in 2000.

anyway, im sure the marketing gurus will come forward with something which they think is suitable

[AndyS]

Yeah, some stroke of utter genius like the A(ustralia) N(ew Zealand) A(rgentina) S(outh Africa) Cup

[Burgs]

No, Four Nations knocks the rest outta the park, let's not get too adventurous.
It’s ok, cause then when we allow the Pacific Islands in we can go for another name change to Four & Three Thirds Nations, which is really catchy.
It also allows avenues to the north to bring in Japan for the Five Three & Thirds Nations and even look to Canada and the US to establish the Seven & Three Thirds Nations without having to lose the marketable history of this strong and encompassing name.

[TOCC]

No, Four Nations knocks the rest outta the park, let's not get too adventurous.
It’s ok, cause then when we allow the Pacific Islands in we can go for another name change to Four & Three Thirds Nations, which is really catchy.
It also allows avenues to the north to bring in Japan for the Five Three & Thirds Nations and even look to Canada and the US to establish the Seven & Three Thirds Nations without having to lose the marketable history of this strong and encompassing name.

jeez burgs, no need to sulk like a bitch, seriously how about we just have a mature conversation for once without trying to insult one anothers intelligence