Samoa declines Super offer
Thu, 09 Jul 2009 09:27
The Samoan Rugby Union has declined an offer from SANZAR - South Africa, New Zealand and Australia Rugby - to join an expanded Super 15 competition.
SANZAR on Wednesday called for "expressions of interest" from applicants wishing to join Super Rugby from 2011.
This, according to a SANZAR statement, is the first step in the application process to determine the location of the 15th team. SANZAR anticipates a decision will be made by November.
In addition to the three SANZAR countries, the Samoan Rugby Union was also provided with the expression of interest document so that it can consider whether it wishes to mount a bid.
Samoan CEO Peter Schuster told NewstalkZB that it would be impossible to get a professional franchise set up in such a short time.
Schuster said Samoa may be interested if the competition has further expansion in the future.
There has been talk from Australia that the next step in expanding Super Rugby
would be to a Super 18.
SANZAR has also written to the national unions Argentina, Canada, Fiji, Japan, United States and Tonga and advised that, while SANZAR is not considering them as potential expansion locations for the 15th team, SANZAR sees the change in the competition format from 2011 as a first step in positioning Super Rugby to allow for future opportunities.
However, it is uncertain if SANZAR will now invite one of the aforementioned countries, following Samoa's decision to decline the invitation.
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