Southern Kings vs Melbourne

[cr@zydude]

Melbourne - Australian city Melbourne will bid against South Africa's Southern Kings franchise for the 15th Super Rugby team when the competition expands in 2011, rugby authorities said on Wednesday.

"Both applicants have been invited to provide more information to SANZAR including a formal application for entry and business plan," SANZAR said in a statement.

SANZAR imposed a September 25 deadline to receive the final bid documents, with a decision on the location of the team due to be announced by October, the rugby body added

http://www.sport24.co.za/Content/Ru...8/19-08-2009 09-08/Super_15_Kings_v_Melbourne

So, who do you guys think will get it? I think Melbourne are more likely, as they are in Australia, but the Kings will have a bigger TV market and a bigger and better stadium.

please keep comments like, reduce it to 12 teams out of this thread. This is happening, so which to do you think will be added and why?

 

[GreGorGy]

I have been disappointed by SANZAR's TV money first attitude around this whole thing because I would really have liked to see the 15th franchise come from Argentina. Their new model is nothing short of a shambles and it could have been done far better. The Southern Kings being added will make this a 6-5-4 contest. It will wear South African rugby even thinner than it already is.

And who exactly are these Southern Kings? Are we trying to revive EP? Surely they should be something in the Currie Cup first? Still, if a South African team is contesting one of the three legs of this contest elsewhere, our bets are spread. We are getting real exposure further than trying to knock each other out.

I would like to see this extra spot go locally above all else. Blind patriotism or whatever, but it gives us invaluable exposure as we build our RWC potential. It can only be good. Pity that fsckwit Watson Snr has been associated with this franchise. Or is it? If he manages to prove himself through a team that is in contention, SA rugby can only benefit.

But in the end, they'll probably choose Melbourne, if only for logistical reasons. Pity that...

 

[Kilgore_Trout_Redux]

If we are going to add this many teams to the Super * we need to look at having two divisions and a relegation system.

 

[LancelotSA]

Number of registered rugby players

South Africa - 434,219 (total)
New Zealand - 141,726 (total)
Australia - 82,818 (total)

That should really answer the question.... but of course we all know money talks in the world of SANZAR.

 

[cr@zydude]

Number of registered rugby players

South Africa - 434,219 (total)
New Zealand - 141,726 (total)
Australia - 82,818 (total)

That should really answer the question.... but of course we all know money talks in the world of SANZAR.

True, but that's a reason for the Southern Kings too. PE is a bigger TV market than Melbourne, in fact the whole of SA is bigger than Aus.

This is because Rugby(union) is rather small in Aus. The biggest sports are Aussie Rules Football, then Rugby league, then cricket, then rugby union, which is even being chalenged for viewers by soccer.

Sorry that I can't post links to verify, I'm capped.