Application for Melbourne to become 15th Super Rugby team Submitted!
Australian Rugby Union has today submitted the application for Melbourne to become the 15th Super Rugby team when the SANZAR competition expands in 2011.
The document has been lodged with SANZAR in accordance with the deadline laid down in a process which will lead to the announcement of the successful applicant on October 21.
There are two competitors for the additional Super Rugby licence – ARU representing Melbourne and the South African Rugby Union representing the Southern Kings from the Eastern Cape.
Both are seeking the sole vacancy in a revamped competition structure where a three-Conference format will apply.
There will be five teams in an Australian Conference, five in a New Zealand Conference, and five in a South African Conference.
Teams will play the other four sides within their Conference on a home and away “local derbies” basis (eight matches in all) and four of the five sides in each of the other two Conferences (a further eight matches).
The 15th Super Rugby team will be placed in the Australian Conference alongside the Waratahs, Reds, Brumbies and Western Force.
ARU has also announced today the appointment of highly-respected investment banker and Melbourne Cricket Ground Trust chairman, John Wylie, as an advisor.
Mr Wylie, Managing Director and Head of Corporate Advisory, Australia for Lazard – one of the world’s leading financial advisory and asset management firms – will help facilitate an appropriate ownership and funding model for the proposed Melbourne Super Rugby Team.
“We are delighted to have a key Melbourne identity, a corporate figure as widely-regarded and influential as John, to assist with the over-arching ambition of bringing Super Rugby to Melbourne,” said ARU Managing Director and CEO John O’Neill.
“The application to have Melbourne admitted as the 15th Super Rugby team in 2011 is now in the hands of SANZAR, and it is a compelling case.
“I also want to be clear that there has been a lot of unsubstantiated and ill-informed comment of late about the Melbourne application.
“ARU does not want to own the Melbourne team and there is absolutely no basis to speculation that a CEO and coach will be supplied or imposed by the ARU.
“What people need to realise is that we want the team in Melbourne, we want it to be a stunning success, and we want all Rugby lovers to work towards the big picture ideal.
“That big picture is a Super Rugby team playing out of the second largest city in this country – and as the only “club” team of the winter football codes to be representing Melbourne on a genuine international stage.
“Surely that is the ideal for those who have Rugby in Melbourne at heart.”
