It is agonising to watch the South African Rugby Union (Saru) wrestle with what might appear a most complex solution to including the Eastern Cape in Super Rugby. Yet the solution to this is extraordinarily simple, delivering a non-conflict remedy that would otherwise decimate South African rugby to the benefit and advantage of the Kiwis, Australians and England (especially England, hosts of the Rugby World Cup in 2015).
You have to understand that firstly, one had to play by Saru’s rules and regulations as per the legal and binding agreements from 2005. When that did not work, in spite of being vindicated by the Cape High Court on August 4 2006, one secondly had to look at this riddle and remedy from every which way to ensure that neither Saru nor South Africa’s six Super Rugby franchises were negatively impacted or breached any broadcast or sponsor agreements.
The facts are that Sanzar will simply not permit the expansion of the Super 15 to Super 16 in 2013 because, quite simply, Sanzar has broadcast and sponsor agreements in place till 2015.
Similarly, all five South African Super Rugby franchises have player and sponsor agreements in place till 2015. There is not one piece of paper that obligates Saru to include the Southern Kings in the Super 15 next year.
On June 8 2005 SA Rugby, now Saru, took a legal and binding President’s Council decision that included the three Eastern Cape rugby unions in Super Rugby from 2006. In attendance at that meeting was current president Oregan Hoskins, James Stoffberg – chairman of the competitions committee, and four other presidents, as well as CFO Basil Haddad, who are still on the Saru exco today.
Under Hoskins and backed by the other five Super Rugby franchises, they decided to exclude three of their 14 rugby unions, namely Border Rugby, EP Rugby and SWD from Super Rugby in 2007 and 2008 with entrenchment and then a cumbersome, ill-thought-out promotion relegation match thereafter.
It was always going to be about what the team sitting out was going to do and, needless to say, that was never addressed. Now, here we are today with Saru facing the cannibalisation of its franchises, to the detriment of SA rugby, pondering the same dilemma.
Seven years later, there is still no blueprint or ‘will’ from Saru to include these three rugby unions in Super Rugby and they have suffered from this exclusion. In fact, Sanzar will not alter its Super 15 competition format until post 2015, effectively excluding these three rugby unions until then.
Despite the best of intentions from SA Rugby and the political and national will to see the introduction and inclusion of the three Eastern Cape unions in Super Rugby in 2013, after seven years there has been no coherent strategic pathway mapped out for either a promotion or relegation tournament. Nor has there been clarity regarding the financial resources required to underwrite the financial resource burden to SA Rugby as a result of the three Eastern Cape teams that have had no participation in Super Rugby for 12 years.
The Super 15 TV schedules are fixed from 2011-2015 with 5 teams per Sanzar union, so consideration instead should be given to each Sanzar union’s expansion with the addition of an extra team from 2016 onwards, which is where Saru should focus its attention.
Altering the existing Super 15 format will unleash a torrent of litigation from the existing five South African franchise participants and their sponsors against SA Rugby and the Eastern Cape unions, further draining resources and energies away from building SA Rugby’s players and unions.
An alternative pathway and strategy exists as a solution, which will:
• Defuse a potentially volatile and emotionally charged political and sporting powder keg in South Africa
• Equally and fairly develop SA Rugby’s three Eastern Cape rugby unions and their financial resources to make them independent
• Develop a pathway for the inclusion of the Eastern Cape unions into the Sanzar Super Rugby tournament from 2016
• Create new international viewership audiences to grow the game
• Establish a South African rugby presence from schools to universities in powerful new growth markets
• Establish new TV alliances and audiences for SuperSport and SABC to provide the necessary TV coverage
This alternative pathway and solution, with the introduction of a “Super 6 Series” international rugby tournament from June-August from 2012-2015 in a home (5 games) and away (5 games) series, will comprise of:
• Border Rugby – based out of Buffalo City (East London) stadium
• EP Kings – out of Mandela Bay Stadium
• SWD Eagles – out of Outeniqua Park
• “The SA Franchise-In-Waiting Team” – a Barbarians-styled team comprising emerging South African and Eastern Cape talent and overseas-based South African and opposing country players out of Mandela Bay Stadium
• USA #1: the top Western Conference team from the USA Rugby’s Premier Rugby tournament in the West Coast of the USA – San Francisco Golden Gate
• USA # 2: the top Eastern Conference team from the USA Rugby’s Premier Rugby tournament in the East Coast of the USA – Life University
Taking the top two Premier Rugby teams from the Eastern and Western Conference allows a rotation of their top two teams vying for these two berths, and offers a powerful incentive for the 12 USA Rugby Premier Rugby teams to grow their regional structures and teams.
In addition, the USA offers a significant market for South Africa to attract TV audiences, spectators and sponsor partners and the 12 Premier Rugby teams desire such an initiative.
The “Franchise-In-Waiting” team offers a team entity that retains South African player and coaching talent that might have been lost to our country, and this team could play the Maoris or some of the Australian and Argentina teams outside of the super rugby tournament windows, and be coached by Peter de Villiers so that his expertise is not lost to SA Rugby.
All involved in rugby agree on the significant benefits that would accrue to Border, EP & SWD which, in a matter of hours, need to be vetted and agreed on by the Competition Committee for further progress.
Rather than pursue an agenda of conflict, the Minister of Sport and Recreation now has the unique opportunity to stage an intervention and, in a day, with the participation of all stakeholders, deliver a solution of harmony and inclusiveness by endorsing and insisting that SARU implement a proposed “Super 6″ international rugby tournament. This tournament would assist the growth and introduction of the three Eastern Cape teams, as well as all of SA Rugby, into “Super” rugby in preparation for winning the Rugby World Cup in 2015 and establishing a new improved Super Rugby tournament from 2016 and beyond.
Tony, do you think that America will pay to watch their teams playing at 02h00? Will they get enough sponsorship to fly and stay here for a few months? How long until they get gatvol of watching their teams getting man shamed by the Kings?
Why doesn’t the Eastern Cape rather build a team which can win the CC 1st Division, then gain promotion to the CC Premier Division, then compete well in in that division, then gain a S15 place?
The USA Premier Rugby League have agreed to this and they will each have 5 home games and 5 away games and the Home games will be telecast on the usual Saturday and the Away Games will be a delayed tape feed to suit their time schedule on ESPN and ESPN International.
Also, you can not mix up a franchise with ABSA Currie Cup teams – it has to be Union on Union.
None of the 5 franchises will agree to promotion relegation in Super 15 and that tournament is cast in stone. NO CHANGES till 2016.
If you read the offering for the Super 6 Series – it focuses on the day in 2016 when the Super 15 becomes Super 18 with 3 conferences of 6 teams each.
SARU should start now on that tournament including Japan and Argentina which details will discussed in the year of the 2015 RWC.
Start there and work back to today Valentines Day 2012!
2@ TonyM:
Ok, but where will the Kings get their players from? I understand the whole global game thing and player movements [FFS I support the Cheetahs and our players are all over the country.
Surely the deal should be to groom the local “emerging” talent from school boy to high level professional rugby? Or will they go the Sharks route and take out the cheque book? It hasn’t really worked for them either lately.
You can’t buy a team.
@ Loosehead:
Between Border EP & SWD they have 450 rugby clubs and I can assure you that there is talent in abundance.
Then they have the NMMU Madibaz as well as Fort Hare, 1500 schools and 3 Provincial teams.
In fact the Eastern Cape have more rugby players than all of Australia.
Believe me when I tell you they have the talent. What they need now is the international rugby tournament to keep the talent.
4 @ TonyM:
Would the Kings and the Poititians now be happy if the Kings do not participate in the Super Rugby competition PROPER of 2013?
Was’nt there a halt to the Super 6 Series, after the announcement that the Kings WILL participate in Super Rugby 2013?
What is your opinion about the SARU announcement that the Kings WILL participate in Super Rugby 2013?
@ TonyM:
Ok, but surely they this talent will be unearthed during the CC?
@ grootblousmile:
Let’s start with your last question.
It is impossible to include the Kings into 2013 as a Super 15 side. There is no legal requirement or foundation for this.
There was the legal binding agreement of 8 June 2005. That now is binding – still to this day. So the Southern Spears have more legal and binding rights than the Southern Kings. How ironic is that?
See: http://www.worldcupweb.com/rugby/news/viewarticle.asp?id=33820
And the Super 6 Series gives the Eastern Cape 4 participating teams (Border, EP, SWD and Franchise in Waiting) rather than a mish mash cobbled together pick up side. Although there are 5-10 players that can really excel.
The EP Kings are not the Southern Kings – yet they play as the EP Kings and Southern Kings. That right there is a hodge podge of branding destined for the junk yard.
@ grootblousmile:
@ Loosehead:
The talent is there. Always has been.
Keegan Daniels is now Captain of the Sharks, Ryan Kankowski, Brent Russel, Luke Watson, Rory Kockott, Ashley Johnson, Devon Raubenheimer ……..but this all has to start in 2012.
Not some cock-a-mamie idea that they will play. They won’t – so get over it and move on to what can be – not that which will never be.
8 @ TonyM:
I agree with you that we have to move on to WHAT can and not to what NEVER WILL BE.
The Question is though, SARU has now promised the WHAT NEVER WILL BE for 2013… how do they get around that?
Look, in fair time and with the right vehicles in place, I agree that the South-Eastern Cape could field a strong unit, if they had to get some talent back and from now on hold on to new talent coming through…
…. but for that to happen, SARU will have to stop farking around and lying to everybody, including to the Southern Kings, us as supporters, to the other Unions… to SANZAR…. hell to everybody!
They need to pull their damn fingers out their arses and lay down some constructive plans for a change!
The Documentation I saw (which you sent me) regarding the Super 6 Series is very workable and a plausible solution for most of the issues…. but will SARU freegin well get in line and make it happen?
I personally think SARU will just come back to the world in a month or a bit more and say “The 5 current Super Rugby Franchises refused to budge, so therefore the Southern Kings inclusion is postponed, till a solution is found”
In other words they’ll blame the impasse on the Super Rugby Franchises.
… or even more likely, they’ll blame SANZAR for not accomodating their immediate request for 6 Franchises…
If I was SANZAR, I would have told SARU to get knotted, in no polite terms either!
SARU will NEVER in a million years come out and say “We farked up and promised something we could not make happen”
@ TonyM:
@ grootblousmile:
So the whole thing is dead in the water, and GBS and I can stop arguing about the Lions and Bulls merging?
11 @ Loosehead:
Over my dead body will the Lions and Bulls merge!
Fok!
I’d rather have the Lions & Cheetahs merge… again…. and play out of freegin Kroonstad or somewhere in the Vuildriehoek… Vereeniging or VanderbijlVark or Sasol-se-holburg!
(They are the 2 worst performing SA Super Rugby Franchises, after all)
They could play in this Stadium:
Die ander spanne vee buitendien hulle gatte af aan die Lions & Cheetahs…. hehehe
@ grootblousmile:
Fighting words, GBS!!! It did not work as the Cats, then and won’t work now. Also, to merge the Bulls and Lions is also a bad idea. What would one call that franchise? Lion Bull, Red Bull (already used by a beverage co, but if they shelve their F1 sponsorship, it could work).
I like the idea of the S6 tournament, as it will get the Kings up speed in terms of travel etc. And should the relegation option be adopted, the side that drope will at least have international exposure.
14 @ Lion4ever:
Shhhht… I’m just toying with Loskoppie & Cheetahs4eva…. not serious at all… play along!
Hehehehe
Why have Chuck Norris never been Bliksemed ?
He has never been to Vanderbijlpark 😆
16 @ Blouste:
Hehehehe
Etzakkerly!
@ grootblousmile:
There will be no merging of the franchises as all 5 have contracted +-200 players to play Super Rugby from 2011-2015 in addition to the franchises contracting with their sponsors through to 2015.
If anyone places the franchises in breach of their contracts with the players and the sponsors they are on a hiding to nothing in the courts – not to mention damages.
Again there is no other alternative than to create a Super Rugby Lite tournament for the next 4 years.
18 @ TonyM:
I know Tony, was just giving the 2 Cheetahs bloggers a go… for having a go at the Bulls for their PINK away strip.
I am as opposed as anybody out there, against ANY merger, of any sort.
Anyway, the cat’s out of the bag, so I’ll have to take the “pakslae” for the Bulls away strip with grace now…. eishhhhh
@ TonyM:Thank you for the explanation, at last something that really sheds a bit of light on the situation, and a solution to boot!
I too, however, wonder just how SARU are going to get out of this one. Yes, I understand that nothing is in writing, and yes, I understand that in reality, they have dug a huge hole for themselves on this one, but I just don’t see how the public, supporters and unions are going to accept their answer when they say that Kings won’t be in the S15 next year. I believe that there will be a backlash of note this time – a good thing in my opinion, and I just don’t see how they will survive. They are already the laughing stock of the rugby world, but this one is going to take them into another orbit.
This is going to make for good viewing, but nothing else.
Jan de Koning, rugby365 – South African Rugby and politics have been synonymous in perpetuity – not just through the interference of government, but also the many unhealthy internal boardroom squabbles.
The history of the game is littered with examples where the national controlling body, currently called the SA Rugby Union, shot themselves in the foot.
Even during the seemingly tranquil reign of the late Danie Craven there were often undercurrents of discord and who can forget big Louis Luyt’s brazen decision to drag former President Nelson Mandela into court.
But seldom has the hierarchy painted themselves into such a tight corner as SARU did – at a special general meeting in Cape Town last month – with the thoughtless decision to foist the Southern Kings onto the Super Rugby stage… almost certainly at the expense of a well-established franchise.
Well, actually there is a perfect case study, in the failed attempt to pass off the Southern Spears as a legitimate Super Rugby franchise some years ago.
One would have thought SARU would have learnt from the numerous mistakes that resulted in a costly court case, after the SA Rugby President’s Council – on June 8, 2005 – promised the South Eastern Cape a Super Rugby franchise.
When the other franchises – much like their are doing again now – put their collective feet down and forced SA Rugby to backtrack on the decision, the Spears’ maverick CEO Tony McKeever dragged the organisation kicking and screaming to court. Apart from the more than R5-million that disappeared into a seemingly black hole, SA Rugby were left red-faced when the court ruled in favour of McKeever.
The matter was eventually settled when the bankrupt ‘equity partners’ of the Spears – the South Western Districts, Border and Eastern Province – relinquished all rights to a franchise. It was a costly exercise, but it appear those lessons were not learnt.
When SARU announced last month that the Southern Kings would join Super Rugby in 2013, they left it up to the five current franchises – Bulls, Lions, Sharks, Cheetahs and Stormers – to find a solution to the likely impasse that will result when SANZAR formally decline their ‘request’ for expansion, to make room for the Kings.
SANZAR CEO Greg Peters has already ruled out the possibility of expanding Super Rugby from 15 to 16 teams, while Australian Rugby Union Chief Executive and SANZAR board member John O’Neill also pointed to the fact that they are in the second year of a five-year deal sold to the broadcasters – which states that it is a 15-team competition until 2015.
SARU Deputy President Mark Alexander may be making plenty of noise about ‘lobbying’ their SANZAR partners about a possible expansion, but Australia and New Zealand officials have made no secret of the fact that they won’t support changing a format that suits them.
And the five SA franchises have also put the ball back in SARU’s court with a cleverly-worded letter last week.
While SARU refuted reports that South Africa’s five franchises have threatened to boycott the 2013 Super Rugby season if any of the current five teams are excluded from the competition, it is worth having a second look at some of the wording of that letter.
The following phrases make it very clear how strongly the established franchises feel about the situation:
* That none of the existing franchises shall be prejudiced by such inclusion [of the Kings] in any way whatsoever;
* That none of the existing franchises shall be eliminated from the tournament in 2013 or at any stage thereafter as a result of the inclusion of the Kings;
* That SARU as custodian of the South African leg of the tournament will ensure that the Kings are included without prejudice to any of the existing franchises.
There is sure to be many statements about this in the weeks and months to come, but don’t be surprised if there is a repeat of the embarrassing developments that marked the Southern Spears eventual demise.
And already the media in Australia are having pot shots at South Africa over what they call the country’s “annual almighty whinge”.
The reason why they find it easy to mock the Japies, is because so often the national body behaves like a three-ring circus.
88-0 ’nuff said.
@ Just For Kicks:
What everyone overlooks is that the inclusion of the Eastern Cape in Super Rugby has to be done and a coherent strategic plan needs to be laid out starting at 2016 for Super Rugby for a new tournament, not next month for next year and one year only.
Similarly, the Rugby World Cup 2015 planning starts with the appointment of a coach in January 2012 – not the previous year of the tournament.
One cannot disregard existing tournaments, broadcast agreements and sponsor and player agreements for an emotional decision based on a knee jerk reaction to a 20 minute chit-chat around the boardroom table and then look to SANZAR to accomodate this wild mayhem.
23 @ TonyM:
Exactly!
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