Saturday 15 March 2008
SA cool on Super 12 expansion

South African rugby bosses have distanced themselves from the radical plan unveiled by their Australian counterparts which called for an extension to the Super 14 and the inclusion of Japanese team.

In an scheme unveiled earlier this week, Australian Rugby Union chief executive John O’Neill called for a 10-week tournament of local derbies to be added to the current 16-week format.

But SA Rugby (Pty), the business arm of the South African Rugby Union, said in a statement on Friday the idea in its current form would compromise the domestic Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup tournaments.

“Much has been made in the media over the last 24 hours of ARU CEO John O’Neill’s statement about the potential restructuring of SANZAR’s Super 14 Competition,” the statement said.

“SA Rugby (Pty) Ltd wants to make the point very clear that the views being expressed by Mr O’Neill are his own/those of the ARU and are not those of SANZAR, nor are they endorsed by South Africa.

“South Africa, (and its SANZAR partners), understands the need to refresh the competitions that it participates in, but this is an ongoing process.

“We have established internal competitions with a long and proud history and will not embark on any restructuring that does not recognise our own rugby heritage and traditions.”

The body reiterated the importance of finding a place for emerging nations to help develop the game abroad.

“The inclusion of Argentina, the Pacific Islands and Japan within Southern Hemisphere rugby structures remains an important focus within our deliberations; how this inclusion takes place, remains part of an ongoing and future debate,” the statement concluded.

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