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Australian Rugby Union welcomes today’s historic decision to include Melbourne as the 15th Super Rugby team when one of the world’s premier Rugby competitions expands in 2011.
An independent two-man panel handed down its verdict after SANZAR requested a review – and a binding finding – on the applications received from ARU, on behalf of Melbourne, and the South African Rugby Union, on behalf of the Southern Kings.
The Expert Determination Panel, appointed last month when the SANZAR Executive Committee was unable to reach a unanimous position on whether Melbourne or the Southern Kings should be the additional team, consisted of 1987 All Blacks’ World Cup winning captain and former Fairfax Media CEO David Kirk, and retired NZ High Court Judge, the Hon Barry Paterson QC.
“This is a vote for commonsense,” said ARU Managing Director and CEO John O’Neill.
“Melbourne has an extraordinary capacity for sport and we can now deliver them a Super Rugby side they can embrace and support in an established competition of genuine international standing.
“Super Rugby is the most prestigious tournament of its kind in our game and it will now reach into Melbourne, with a team playing out of the new state-of-the-art purpose-built Melbourne Rectangular Stadium.
“We are obviously delighted by the outcome.
Message from the President, Gary Gray
This is a sensational outcome for the Victorian rugby community. In our 100th year of organised rugby under the VRU, this is a fitting reward for the work of many people.
Melbourne deserves international rugby and deserves to have its own team. The Government has provided us with the world's best playing facility in our new stadium opening next year, and I know that Melbourne sports fans will get behind their newest team.
This is a shared victory and the VRU is grateful to all of the supporters, not just the current, but all those who have made rugby in Victoria strong and capable of taking on this new and exciting opportunity.
