Wanted - a 15th Super rugby team

[travelling_gerry]

July 9, 2009 - 9:19AM


Southern hemisphere rugby conglomerate SANZAR has called for expressions of interest from applicants wishing to join an expanded Super 15 tournament in 2011.
This is the first step in the application process to determine the location of the 15th team, with a decision expected to be made by November.

Geographical location and the time zone of the new team will be a key consideration for SANZAR as the 15th team will play in the Australian conference.

Melbourne and western Sydney have been mentioned as potential locations for a fifth Australian team in the tournament.

In addition to sending letters to the Australian, New Zealand and South African rugby unions, SANZAR has invited the national bodies of Argentina, Canada, Fiji, Japan, USA and Tonga to consider applying.

Potential applicants need to register their interest with SANZAR by July 22.
© 2009 AAP

http://news.rugbyheaven.com.au/break...0709-ddtu.html

http://news.rugbyheaven.com.au/break...0709-ddtu.html

[Burgs]

Game on!
Interesting that they don't mention Samoa.

[palitu]

i would like to see canada or someone of that ilk come along, though it would be tough with the time zone... aye...

[The Man]

Hurry up and give it to http://www.vicrugby.com.au

[mudskipper]

Applause…. Finally a longer Super rugby season….

[Stone Cold]

cmon vic team...with an islander presence (so the wallabies can get em before the all blacks do)...

[tic]

Hurry up and give it to http://www.vicrugby.com.au

yep, imagine the excitement of running out in front of 5000 people each week.

[Working Class]

Victoria or more likely Melbourne will get the 5th Licence regardless of the recent speculation. This open invite is to garner interest in the future expansion of the Super Series. Say if they get interest from all the above mentioned unions plus Samoa which I believe more of an oversight that bades well for the future.

SANZAR will respectfully decline their applications at the moment but assure them they will be giving all consideration in the next expansion of the competition. And strong interest means SANZAR will have no problems going to a Super 18 in 2013. With the possibility of going even further. I mentioned this on THEROAR but their was a article in RugbyWorld magazine about a leak regarding a Super Rugby master plan. And it included targeting all the regions that have been mentioned to create a Supersized Super Series.

[jargan83]

Applause…. Finally a longer Super rugby season….

Not really, 16 week comp that starts later (March) and with a 3 week bye for the June Tests, not to mention that you won't be playing all of the overseas sides either

Instead of a 14 week Super 14....

[James]

yep, imagine the excitement of running out in front of 5000 people each week.

Thats a bit short-sighted Tic. I mean the Force budgeted for 5,000 in their first season and the 30k or so that rocked up to most of our games back then was a bit of a surprise. Sure there is more competition in the Melbourne sporting landscape than in Perth but there are also about twice as many people. I'm pretty sure all the Force v Crusaders friendly games we played there got 10,000. There would be enough rugby union fans in Victoria or people interested in something new and exciting to make a pretty bloody good crowd.

If you give it to the Gold Coast or Western Sydney people would stop supporting the Reds/Waratahs.

[jargan83]

If you give it to the Gold Coast or Western Sydney people would stop supporting the Reds/Waratahs.

People support the Waratahs?

[Burgs]

The new 2024 Super Plan...according to Burgs...
24 teams by 2024.

Australia:

1 Brumbies
2 Force
3 Melbourne
4 Reds
5 South Australia
6 Waratahs

New Zealand:

1 Blues
2 Chiefs
3 Crusaders
4 Highlanders
5 Hurricanes
6 North Harbour


South Africa:

1 Bulls
2 Cheetahs
3 Kings
4 Lions
5 Sharks
6 Stormers

Pacific:

1 Argentina Regions
2 Buenos Aires
3 Canada West Coast
4 Japan
5 Pacific Islands
6 USA West Coast

[TOCC]

the ARU is still going to have to tussle over it with SARU, the Saffas still want there team

[Working Class]

According to the article I read that actually pretty close to the mark except you can add in

ASIA
1. Tokyo
2.Osaka
3. Fukawoka
4.Shanghai
5. Hong Kong
6. Dubai

[tic]

Thats a bit short-sighted Tic. I mean the Force budgeted for 5,000 in their first season and the 30k or so that rocked up to most of our games back then was a bit of a surprise. Sure there is more competition in the Melbourne sporting landscape than in Perth but there are also about twice as many people. I'm pretty sure all the Force v Crusaders friendly games we played there got 10,000. There would be enough rugby union fans in Victoria or people interested in something new and exciting to make a pretty bloody good crowd.

If you give it to the Gold Coast or Western Sydney people would stop supporting the Reds/Waratahs.

I don't think so - the rugby support base is much bigger in these states. It still doesn't change my view about the folly of a 5th Aussie team.

As regards comparisons with the Force, I disagree. The supporter base was always bigger and better in Perth. Melbourne is AFL territory. Game over.