New twists in Super race

[AndyS]

The race for the extra place in an expanded Super Rugby competition in 2011 continues to take unexpected turns - with a New Zealand province and Australian soccer club having entered the race.

It is reported from New Zealand that Hawke's Bay could be an unexpected - if highly unlikely - contender for the 15th spot in the revamped Super rugby competition.

Then there is the reports from Australia that the Melbourne A-League soccer franchise has also emerged as a surprise bidder to run the new team.

They are amongst a host of franchises - which could also include the Southern Kings from South Africa - that will bid to join the Australian conference when Super Rugby is expanded in 2011......

Most assumed that because it is to compete in the Aussie conference, Melbourne was a front runner to get the franchise.

However, that has apparently not stopped Hawke's Bay from considering a bid.

Hawke's Bay Rugby Football Union board member Kevin Atkinson told the Hawke's Bay Today newspaper the union would put its hand up.

The rejuvenated rugby province has established its credentials in the Air New Zealand Cup and supplied recent All Blacks in Bryn Evans and Hika Elliot as well as a core of Super 14 players.

But it seems unlikely the bid will go far. New Zealand's depth has been stretched in recent years to the point many believe the country can barely sustain five competitive teams, let alone six.

Any Hawke's Bay bid is unlikely to mean much for the Highlanders, whose place in the competition is safe for the time being.

More interesting is the possibility of a battle between Victorian rugby and soccer for a Super 15 team based in Melbourne......

(blah, blah...)

Bids must be lodged by July 22, after which the national Rugby Unions will decide which bids should make full applications to SANZAR on September 18.

The winning bid will be announced on October 31....

http://www.rugby365.com/all_news/1792520.htm

[Burgs]

Good to have competition anyway. Unless the eventual winner has already had the heads up it means they will have to present a top class proposal.
North Harbour is the next cab off the rank in NZ and,as I understand it is a SANZAR not ARU decision, I doubt NZRU would give the vote to the "wrong" province.

[Working Class]

Read this article yesterday. Its actually very interesting to see several bids arise. The Kings, western Sydney, Gold Coast, Two from Melbourne and now Hawke's Bay. And I have read rumours of possible Japanese interest. All bodes well for future expansion. Add in the plan to expand further into the Americas.

[travelling_gerry]

Hawkes Bay.....hmmm.... WINE!!

[Burgs]

Stay strong Gerry

[mudskipper]

ARU and SANZAR can't trust another sporting code to run a Super rugby team... It wont happen...