Melbourne endorsed by ARU for inclusion in Super rugby competition

[AndyS]

Melbourne will be up against bids from New Zealand and South Africa for inclusion in the expanded Super rugby competition in 2015.

“The decision to be made by SANZAR before the end of the year is not where in Australia the team will be based – but in which country," said ARU Managing Director and CEO John O’Neill.

“It was for this reason that the ARU Board accepted a recommendation from management to put forward only one bid to the next stage of the selection process,”

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...002381,00.html

[shasta]

Surrprise, surrprise, surrprise.

[beige]

5 down, 5 to go... soon to be 3...
Meaning that it will be Melbourne vs Taranaki vs Southern Kings...

(Slight misprint in the first line there - 2015???)

[AndyS]

http://www.rugbyheaven.com.au/news/n...756339937.html

The Australian Rugby Union has endorsed Melbourne as the country’s sole contending venue for the 15th Super rugby licence and called on the three bidders from the southern capital to join forces.

Melbourne was chosen by the ARU ahead of bids from western Sydney, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast while NSW Country withdrew last week.

ARU chief executive, John O’Neill said Melbourne gave Australia the best chance of securing the 15th franchise in the face of offshore competition.

The Super 14 is to expand by one team in 2011 with governing body SANZAR to decide later this year where the new side will be established.

While the 15th team will play in the Australian conference as part of a revamped competition, interested parties in South Africa and New Zealand are also bidding to have the side based within their national boundaries.

‘‘The ARU has called on the three parties from Victoria who put forward separate expressions of interest to join forces to ensure Australia’s prospects of securing the 15th Super rugby licence are maximised,’’ an ARU statement said on Wednesday.

Managing director and CEO John O’Neill added: ‘‘We want to make sure the 15th team is in Australia; thus the ARU will facilitate the potential for a seamless and sensible amalgamation of those interested parties.

‘‘It will surely put us in the best position possible.

‘‘There are elements in each of the Melbourne expressions of interest that ensure the sum of the parts will be extremely powerful.

’’ ... At this stage in the evolution of Super rugby, we believe Melbourne has the best chance of success.

‘‘We are in a three-nation race for the licence and we want the 15th team in Australia.

‘‘So we need to focus our energy on what will be our most compelling bid.’’

‘‘We believe western Sydney, Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast all have great prospects for the future,’’ O’Neill said of possible further expansion.

A final decision from SANZAR on the successful bidder is expected in late October.

AAP

[James]

5 down, 5 to go... soon to be 3...
Meaning that it will be Melbourne vs Taranaki vs Southern Kings...

(Slight misprint in the first line there - 2015???)

It was always going to be between Melbourne and the 6th South African franchise. They only put the tender process through for a bit of legitimacy and to get those areas playing through the hypotheticals a bit to grease the wheels in case of future expansion. Expect Taranaki to pull out in the next week or two. In a typically disorganised South African fashion expect the Southern Kings to pull out 2 hours before the franchise winner is announced. They won't get their act together in time and rather than saving everyone else the hassle of looking at the separate bids they will keep stringing it along.

Lest we forget Tony McKeever.

[shasta]

Expect Taranaki to pull out in the next week or two.

Hmmmm. Maybe, but the bid was reportedly so compelling that the NZRU felt they could not throw it out even though they definitely don't want a 6th franchise. The NZRU might want them to fall on their sword but who knows what the bidders will do? Interesting.

Better them than the Spears.

[beige]

Kings

[James]

Hmmmm. Maybe, but the bid was reportedly so compelling that the NZRU felt they could not throw it out even though they definitely don't want a 6th franchise. The NZRU might want them to fall on their sword but who knows what the bidders will do? Interesting.

Better them than the Spears.

Presumably the only way a big could be compelling to the NZRU is if it would have some solid corporate backing and be big money earner, or at the very least self-sufficient. The last thing the NZRU wants is another group of people eating away at their finances. The Highlanders and the Chiefs (despite the Chiefs on field success) aren't exactly big money spinners and posting a team in a city (presumably based in New Plymouth) with 40-50,000 less people can't be any better off surely.

Unless they too want to go down the private equity route.

Sad truth though is that if they did end up having a team they'd have a better stadium then us Yarrow Stadium holds 20-25k. Perth has to be about 30 times bigger than New Plymouth too .

[Working Class]

Melbourne - 2011

Western Sydney, Southern kings nad Taranki - 2013 simple.

[TOCC]

well melbourne is going to have the population, the stadium and the financial backing, really the only thing they are missing is the players

[Sheikh]

Seeing as Australia is currently struggling to have four competitive teams (sorry Queensland, but you've been in the bottom three for the past six years) I'm going to tempt a severe smoting and say maybe Australia shouldn't get the fifth franchise.

South Africa and New Zealand both have strong leagues below Super 14 where they could bring in the extra players from. A Melbourne franchise would have to recruit from the Shute Shield teams and water down the depth of strength in the existing teams.

Of course, if we had an ARC...

[jargan83]

South Africa and New Zealand have strong 3rd Tier comps, but how often do the Lions, Cheetahs, Highlanders end up near the bottom of the table?

[inactive]

I do not think we have the depth or talent yet developed in Australia to have a 5th team

[Sheikh]

South Africa and New Zealand have strong 3rd Tier comps, but how often do the Lions, Cheetahs, Highlanders end up near the bottom of the table?

Lions - regularly, Highlanders - often, Cheetahs - only been around as long as we have and not performed as well.

But then again - in Super 14 finals (16 teams): NZ 9 (Crusaders 4, Hurricanes 3, Chiefs & Blues); SA 5 (Bulls 3, Sharks 2); Australia 2 (both Tahs).

It's a similar story if you look at the 40 Super 12 finalists: NZ 19, SA 10, Australia 11, but NZ talent was spread between 5 teams, SA 4 and Australian only between 3.

If I were an East Coast troll, I'd suggest that adding a fourth Australian team meant that instead of qualifying a team in the finals every year we only get a team in every other year. Will a fifth team necessarily help?

Look at it this way - the Force have been struggling to find an experienced hooker and fly-half and could start next season with someone who was an academy player last year and a Jarpie.

Without the Shute Shield becoming better, or a competition like the ARC, how will the fifth franchise find the players? There may be 75 Super 14 standard players in Australia, but are there 110?

[Working Class]

The Melbourne team should be allowed to sign a certain percentage of foriegn players intially. Juan Martin Hernandez is playing for the Sharks in the Currie Cup and S14 on a one year contract. He'd be a good buy. The major problem for Rugby over the years has been the lack of professional opportunities available. To the benefit of League. Over time a fifth could assist in reconciling this.

Plus, with 5 Professional teams there could be an opportunity to establish a Acadmey's based Championship with the failed bids of Western Sydney, Gold Coast being included with Adelaide, NSW Country and QLD Country open to compete if they want.