Super expansion: NZ see big picture
Sun, 28 Sep 2008 14:11
The proposed expansion of the Super 14 tournament has not only saved New Zealand provincial sides Northland and Tasman from future Air New Zealand Cup expulsion, but will also create opportunities for many more professional players.
Recently, both Northland and Tasman have been vigorously fighting for their right to remain in New Zealand's premier domestic tournament, with both provinces making passionate pleas to the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) in a bid for survival.
And those pleas have paid off for the two provinces, with the NZRU scrapping earlier ideas to axe the two teams from next year's Air NZ Cup calendar.
But according to the Sunday Star-Times, there was another factor behind the NZRU's decision to keep the status quo with regards to the Taniwha and the Makos - the future need for a large pool of top-level playing talent for an expanded Super tournament.
Plans to change the format of the Super 14 is thought to be at an advanced stage, with a Super 15 format mooted for 2010, and a larger format of up to 18 teams in the pipeline by 2012. The plans are yet to be ratified.
All these changes will in effect create the need for six teams from New Zealand, which translates to around 200 vacancies for players, coaching staff and administrators.
"From our perspective, with these changes to Super rugby coming, it made no sense to reduce the player pool in New Zealand. The NZRU agreed," said New Zealand Rugby Players' Association Chief Rob Nichol.
Nichol also explained that the proposed changes in the duration of the Super tournament to 24 weeks will increase squad sizes and create a bigger market for professional players in New Zealand, which could stop the exodus of local players to Northern Hemisphere teams.
"The reality is it will [create] many more [jobs]," said Nichol.
"That's exciting for the player market which is already under pressure not only from the Northern Hemisphere but from closer to home.
"Australia is going to allow two players from overseas to join their squads next year. Don't assume that they will come from the Northern Hemisphere.
"We'd like to see some come from Argentina and the Pacific and ultimately they could join our New Zealand-based teams too.
"We already know that coaches like Robbie Deans and John Mitchell, who know our guys inside out, are making offers [to New Zealand-based players] so we're going to need more professional rugby players to meet that demand."
Nichol also elaborated on the state of the professional model in New Zealand, and explained that the system of remuneration had become financially unviable for the provinces.
He also stressed the need for the game to evolve in New Zealand.
"Hopefully changes to Super rugby will generate new income and a fairer model on how to distribute that revenue [to those who generate it]," Nichol told the Sunday Star-Times.
"There will be more players exposed to it too so from our perspective that's a good thing.
"That's the goal we need to achieve. If we don't, we risk becoming another Argentina or Pacific Island country, with all our players based overseas.
"We can't let that happen. We need to embrace this change.
"The market for players is becoming more competitive every year so cutting down the amount of opportunities available just didn't make sense strategically or financially."
The same scenario of an increased job market for professional players could conceivably apply to South Africa if another Super franchise from the Republic is drafted into the expanded Super tournament.
The Eastern Cape has long been earmarked as a possible area that could be utilised for such a franchise, despite the failure of the now defunct Southern Spears franchise to make its way into the SANZAR (South Africa, New Zealand and Australia Rugby) tournament.
