Super Rugby trophy
Tenders from Japan and Singapore will vie for a licence to enter the Super Rugby competition in 2016, governing body SANZAR has confirmed.
A decision is slated to be reached in September / October.
“We are now able to confirm that two parties from Asia will compete for the opportunity to join an expanded Super Rugby competition in 2016,” SANZAR CEO Greg Peters said.
AAP
“Asia is a region that has been the focus of considerable investment by the International Rugby Board in recent years and is a strategically sound location for the evolution of Super Rugby.”
“We were happy with the number of responses received, however the two stand-out expressions of interest that were most attractive to the SANZAR Unions were received from Japan and Singapore.”
The two bidders now have until mid-August to submit formal tender documents to be one of the 18 teams playing in 2016.
The other two teams added to the 15-franchise structure will be the Kings from South Africa’s Eastern Cape and a team based in Argentina.
I wonder how either of these two countries can field a competitive team?
If Japan, for argument sake, gets the tender, will they play their national side or will they make one combined squad from all their sides taking part in their league, including the Saffas like Bekker, Fourie DuP and the All Black players also competing there?
Singapore, I have no clue what level of rugby is played there, so maybe they will also somehow buy a team, ala Touloun?
Singaporean team mostly foreigners, Zarius Grove from SA among others, played for Pukke.
Pietman wrote:
Will they be even remotely competitive against the Sharks or maybe be able to stand up to the Bulls at Loftus?
nortierd wrote:
@3 Norrefok! Nie eens in ons varsity cup nie.
Daar was n blogger op Voldy, Tokkolosh, hy het op n stadium daar by die universiteit afgerig en het my bietjie vertel van die rugby daar. Maar hulle was 2010 toe ek laas in daai wereld so swak dat Korea nie eens teen hulle wou speel nie. Baie Saffas , Ozzies, Poms daar in Singa, onderwysers, onderwater sweisers, ambagsmanne ens, hulle sal waarskynlik die span opmaak. Maar daai mense het volop geld, sal seker spelers bykoop.
Jy kan bietjie kyk hoe hulle vaar in die Asia Cup, behoort n aanduiding te gee.
pietman @ 4
“…. onderwysers, onderwater swysers ….”
nie geweet jy dig ook nie pieta
@ Pietman:
Singapore sal verseker voltydse spelers moet he om aan super rugby deel te neem nie onderwyser onderwater swysers nie 😀
@ Pietman:
Met ander woorde, om kompeterend te kan wees gaan hulle ook nou begin om van ons spelers te koop.
Asof ons nie al klaar genoeg na ander lande verloor nie
I would have loved to have seen a European bid as well. I know there will be an overlap with the 2 European leagues, the Heineken and Amlin Cups as well as the various domestic competitions, but I am sure that teams that are not involved in the 2 regional competitions could form a club that could have competed well in SR.
Singapore does not even have to go far to find players for their team. They just need to do what the NZ’ers and Aussies do. Raid Samoa, Fiji and Tonga for their players. Add in a couple of disgruntled Kiwis, Aussies and Saffas, and you will have a competitive team. Argentina will field a decent team. Look what they did to the Scots. It was basically the Pampas team that played in the VC Cup not so long ago. Add in one or 2 European based players and they will be a tough nut to crack.
@ Lion4ever:
Maybe there was, we can only speculate as to the criteria SANZAR used to whittle it down to this short list.
But, from the beginning they did infer that the team who wins the right to play must be competitive, yet here we are speculating about the perceived weakness of both sides that has made the short list
Ashley wrote:
Hello Asjas! LOL!
Ja, sweisers! Moerse skeepswerf daar, baie Saffas.
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