Sir John Kirwan's dramatic proposal to save rugby: Axe Super Rugby, more domestic com
Someone send him Twiggy's number!
All Blacks legend Sir John Kirwan has proposed a dramatic shift to the structure of club rugby in the southern hemisphere, one which would see the end of Super Rugby as we know it.
Sir John, who played in 63 Tests for the All Blacks, is proposing a system that would see greater parity with the structure of the northern hemisphere, with domestic rugby the main feature.
The proposal would see New Zealand's 14 provincial unions and six from Australia combine into a 20-team competition, while any international club-based tournament, including sides from South Africa and Japan, would become involved in a Heineken Cup style format, Sir John told Stuff.
"Super Rugby has been fantastic but domestic competitions are important and need to be strong," he said.
"The game is changing pretty quickly. There's a couple of things we need to get back to. We need to get back to some tribalism and some traditionalism, so get back to Auckland, North Harbour, Otago."
The move would effectively streamline club rugby in the Southern Hemisphere, allowing for a proper Test window in June before the Rugby Championship.
The benefits of the proposed shift would also allow Australia more competition at the provincial level.
"We need Australian football to be strong so I think they should become part of a 20-team, NRL-type situation."
"For example, we would have possibly 14 New Zealand sides and then six Australian sides - get back to their traditional sides - and I think we've seen a resurgence of support [in Australia] for them.
"And then the Japanese play their domestic competitions, the Africans play their domestic competition, and we could possible look at a couple of Island sides coming in and then every four to six weeks we break into a four-round Super Rugby where we all play each other."
Super Rugby's current broadcast deal ends in 2020, with SANZAAR understood to be in discussions about its future as a competition.
