Super Rugby 2017

OrbitalDawn

OrbitalDawn

Ulysses Everett McGill
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Horrid weekend so far for NZ teams. So many injuries. Dagg and Tamanivalu off within the first quarter. Sopoaga and Naholo also injured in the previous game.
 
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Fulcrum29

Fulcrum29

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http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...ecision-on-the-future-of-super-rugby-imminent

Decision on the future of Super Rugby imminent

Change is coming to Super Rugby, but what that looks like remains unclear.

All we know for sure is Super Rugby's future will be decided in the coming days after Sanzaar meetings concluded in London.

Sanzaar executives - representatives from New Zealand, Argentina, South Africa and Australia - met this week and held "robust discussions" about whether to axe teams from the 18 side competition.

The fate of Japan's struggling Sunwolves is out of their hands as they are not a formal partner around the board table. But they are expected to survive on the basis of being a productive broadcast market.

Sanzaar released a statement on Saturday giving no firm indication of what the future holds, other than to say a direction would be soon be revealed.

"Following two days of robust discussion there are a number of tournament considerations that now require further discussion and consultation. This includes final consultation within the national unions and discussion with key stakeholders that would allow the adoption of changes proposed by the strategic plan," Sanzaar chief executive Andy Marinos said in the statement.

"Sanzaar will make a formal statement on the future of the organisation, Super Rugby and the tournament format in the coming days once these further meetings have been concluded."

New Zealand's preference is understood to be for a 15 team model that retains the Sunwolves and Agrentina's Jaguares, and involves South Africa dropping two sides. Changes, however, can only be made with unanimous agreement from all Sanzaar partners.

The Australian Rugby Union is thought to be open to dropping one team but choosing between the Perth-based Force and Melbourne Rebels would cause major ructions.

Another model being considered is a three conference system comprising six teams in each. That would probably see New Zealand grouped with the Jaguares; the Sunwolves join the five existing Australian teams, and feature 10 derby matches in each conference.

The broadcast agreement has been singed through to 2020 on the basis of 18 teams. Any tweaks, small or major, would need buy-in from the broadcasters who bankroll the competition.

Decisions have already been delayed by six months but there is a general acceptance the model as it stands is not working.
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ARPA is opposing the ARU, wanting the Aussies to retain 5 teams and dropping the Sunwolves and SA to drop the 2 teams. It is also rumoured that the Brumbies has been brought up to be axed. I guess we will know more by the mid-year, because this decision needs to be taken prior to the mid-year rugby union internationals.
 
OrbitalDawn

OrbitalDawn

Ulysses Everett McGill
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Lame yellow. Simmons kept pushing Taufua in the face with his first yet Taufua gets sent off?
 
Creag

Creag

The Boar's Rock
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Crusaders 22 - 20 Reds ... Crusaders pulled a rabbit out a hat?

Fulcrum29 said:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...ecision-on-the-future-of-super-rugby-imminent
ARPA is opposing the ARU, wanting the Aussies to retain 5 teams and dropping the Sunwolves and SA to drop the 2 teams. It is also rumoured that the Brumbies has been brought up to be axed. I guess we will know more by the mid-year, because this decision needs to be taken prior to the mid-year rugby union internationals.
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I am not at all surprised that 3 must go. Sunwolves and Jaguars are safe, it feels, if revenue is to be the judge.

South Africa losing 2 would be a bitter blow to the franchise that goes out with the Kings (not that the Kings will feel any less aggrieved). And just who would the 2 from South Africa be? And why not the Rebels from Melbourne?
 
OrbitalDawn

OrbitalDawn

Ulysses Everett McGill
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Why the hell would the Brumbies be axed? Unlike the Force and Rebels they actually achieve something usually.
 
Fulcrum29

Fulcrum29

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McT said:
Crusaders 22 - 20 Reds ... Crusaders pulled a rabbit out a hat?



I am not at all surprised that 3 must go. Sunwolves and Jaguars are safe, it feels, if revenue is to be the judge.

South Africa losing 2 would be a bitter blow to the franchise that goes out with the Kings (not that the Kings will feel any less aggrieved). And just who would the 2 from South Africa be? And why not the Rebels from Melbourne?
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The Aussies has RUPA involved, I must correct my previous post, which is the Australian Rugby Union Players Association and they seem to have some sway by lobbying in the decision. Then there are the big steps taken by the Rebels which are privately owned, has the capital and the sponsorships, the Force with an employee’s stake in the entity supported by government sponsorships. The Brumbies on the other hand has been dealing with managerial issues and an empty’ish pocket, but they have historical merit. The Rebels also has the largest supporters base, the Waratahs has the largest players base and the Reds are somewhere in the middle. Lastly, the Aussies are guarded under Fox Sports broadcasting rights, where a compromise may or may not be made.

I doubt that the Cheetahs will be cut, it is more likely to see 1 Aussie team and 1 SA team to be axed, or they will keep to the 18-team setup split into 6 groups with 3 teams each. The Jaguares pooled with the New Zealanders and the Sunwolves pooled with the Aussies. The newly proposed 18 team setup, as leaked on Wednesday/Thursday, will see the groups go on tour in a synchronised schedule and see every team play the other.

The Jaguares will be going nowhere, you know SANZAAR. There is a chance that the Sunwolves may be chopped and being reintroduced at a later stage, it is only New Zealand supporting their inclusion.

No matter how we look at it, the Aussies seem to be greedy in this decision which will impact whether we will lose 1 or 2 teams. I think this may be reason why New Zealand and SA is backing the new proposal. There is no decision to date, whatever options has been decided on has to be consulted with the parties involved. The JRFU (and Sunwolves) has no say in this.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see the JRFU buy in on SANZAAR in 2020.
 
MickeyD

MickeyD

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How was Elstad not red-carded for that???

Firstly several pulls at the beard and then a fist to the face.
 
Fulcrum29

Fulcrum29

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I am glad to see that the Japanese ref knows the difference between a punch and a punch. The disciplinary committee will probably hike it to a yellow and give him 2 weeks to revaluate his choices in life.
 
MickeyD

MickeyD

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Fulcrum29 said:
I am glad to see that the Japanese ref knows the difference between a punch and a punch. The disciplinary committee will probably hike it to a yellow and give him 2 weeks to revaluate his choices in life.
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A yellow for the beard pulling and a yellow for the punch.
 
Fulcrum29

Fulcrum29

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MickeyD said:
A yellow for the beard pulling and a yellow for the punch.
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It is the Stormers, Mickey ;) :p

Under the rules that should have been a yellow though, but circumstance pending. Argy-Bargy and all that, difficult to make the call right there and then as there are too many players involved with a clock ticking. So, yah, disciplinary committee must take it further.
 
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