Wallabies coach Robbie Deans believes the introduction of a Melbourne-based Super Rugby franchise will help lift Australian rugby out of its current slump.
A lack of recent on-field success for Australian teams at both Test and provincial level, coupled with a decline in the amount of attractive rugby being played, has seen rugby slip to a distant fourth behind Australian Rules, Rugby League and soccer in the battle of the football codes.
And while an extra team is sure to push the already stretched player resources to the limit, Deans, the most successful coach in Super Rugby history having won five titles in nine seasons with the Crusaders, is adamant expansion is the answer.
"It can't help but help," Deans said.
"It's a fantastic outcome. The profile of the game will just escalate, you've got rugby across the calendar year, you've got not only rugby but local derbies so domestic rugby - those two points alone are enormous."
Deans, in Dublin with the Wallabies ahead of Sunday's showdown with Six Nations champions Ireland, expects the injection of a fifth Super Rugby team to strengthen player depth and ultimately improve the national team.
"This will offer us (the Wallabies) value, no doubt about it," he said.
"There's more top-end rugby and the reality is that players tend to be as good as the competitions they've come out of.
"And we've now got a top-end competition that'll run from the start of the year to the finish - and you can't better that."
Melbourne-born Wallabies skipper Rocky Elsom agreed the new team - likely to be called the Melbourne Rebels - can only be good for the code in Australia.
"I think everyone's pretty happy, I think it's a big win for all parties. I think what John said about building depth in Australia it's very important to have another team. I can't see too many down points with having a team in Melbourne," Elsom said.
"I think it's very important to have the games going all year so that people can play more rugby and support their team harder which is probably one of the failings of the current comp."
Elsom, who will join the Brumbies on a two-year deal from next season, was less forthcoming when asked if he will be the Melbourne team's first marquee signing.
"I'm yet to join the Brumbies so I probably wouldn't speculate about that."
Meanwhile, Australian Rugby Union boss John O'Neill labelled Super Rugby the best rugby competition in the world and said the expanded competition to be launched in 2011 is central to rugby's long term success in this country.
"Super Rugby is our shop front, if you want to go head to head with the AFL and the NRL and the A-League you need a shop front, and the shop front will be 22 weeks of Super Rugby followed by Tri-Nations," O'Neill explained.
"It's the shot in the arm we need, I've been quite public about rugby in Australia and probably rugby in a number of places needing a wake-up call.
"And this competition structure will help and hopefully we get a style of rugby being played which is also conducive to getting our crowds back and getting our viewers back."
Comments
Byron says...
Hey don't South Africa generate over 50% of the revenue for Sanzar ??? Maybe its time for our broadcasters to throw their toys out the cot too!!!!
Guys... The game is about players! not money
Posted 06:15 13th November 2009
Rhino says...
Byron, minor point to make, the key factor was the loss of R137M in revenue over the broadcast deal (or $20M AUD) by having the team in SA over Australia, this is after all, an economic venture by the three unions. Otherwise, a fair number of players will probably come from SA (for what its worth a good source told me that the ARU received 150 applications from SA within a few hours of announcing the allowing of 1 Marquee and 1 unsigned player in the S14 teams). Some players will come from Europe, the Pacific Islands, Japan, Argentina etc etc etc some will also return from the ranks of European club rygby (love to see Dan Vickerman back, Rodzilla and so on). But more will come from the heartland of Australian Rugby, the Sydney club competition. I know players personally in this competition that would be competitive at the S14 level of the game if given the chance.
There is my 50c worth (or should that be 5 rand?), the S14 will be better as S15 with an extra Australian team, not some transplanted SA team on the wrong continent with next to no local supporters.
Posted 02:35 13th November 2009
Stellenbosched says...
While I have to agree that it makes more sense to base the team in Oz, two points worry me. First I read that the new franchise will try and attract foreign players, so am I being paranoid in assuming that the ARU will be trying to raid SA's player base? If they do we will surely withdraw from SANZAR. Second, Byron is quite right in pointing out that when it comes to these decisions the New Zealanders always side with the Australians, and vice versa. I would like anyone to give me an instance where one of these two nations agreed that SA was correct in a dispute. I don't think this is being paranoid, we just don't trust the two nations to be honest and fair where SA is involved.
Posted 16:39 12th November 2009
wakachangchang says...
Get over it Byron, it makes sense for the team that is to be in the Aussie conference to be based in Aussie.
Regarding weakening, there were 3 SA teams in the bottom 5 this year (as per usual), so how can you say SA is more deserving on that regard.
If you want europeans to be watching in greater numbers then the best option is to join the heineken cup. No thanks.
There is no NZ/AU conspiracy against you, you can sleep easy at night.
Posted 13:44 12th November 2009
Byron says...
Well another poor desision! Who would have guessed that an all New Zealand would have panel would have voted for Australia. Their justification is laughable!
The report states that the Southern Kings were better prepared in all aspects relivant to running a franchise. More importantly they have a large established Rugby playing base - Hey the last time I looked you need players to play rugby!
The sole factor that they mentioned supposively in their favour was geographical location. How this is an advantage I don't know? Wait New Zealand players have to travel less??? The introduction of the force proved that Australia do not have the playing base to supply even the Western Force. As for Location, A south african destination would have provided better live TV coverage for Europe to Watch - Something that pays better than the 1000 or so extra OZ fans that are going to watch rugby now!
As for improving Australian Rugby, All existing Australian rugby unions will lose a couple of players weakening them further. Ozzies get used to playing another season of losing rugby!!!
Posted 11:41 12th November 2009