Bernard Jackman explains why Super Rugby has ‘gone off our radar a little bit’ and reveals the tournament which has become more popular
Bernard Jackman has revealed that he seldom watches Super Rugby Pacific matches on television and said the Top 14 has replaced it as the more popular competition to watch.
Shortly after rugby union turned professional in 1995, Super Rugby was launched in 1996, and the leading clubs from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa participated in the tournament.
The competition became quite popular, was very successful and lasted for more than 20 years, with clubs from Argentina and Japan also allowed to participate during that period.
Travel impacted by Covid-19
However, after the Covid-19 pandemic struck, which curtailed the 2020 Super Rugby tournament, it forced a rethink in New Zealand and Australia, with travel being notably impacted.
New Zealand Rugby decided to break away from the competition, establishing the domestic Super Rugby Aotearoa tournament, before they and Australia joined forces to set up Super Rugby Trans-Tasman and then Super Rugby Pacific.
That meant teams from South Africa were forced to go their own way and their four leading franchises – the Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers – joined the United Rugby Championship and have also been allowed to qualify for the Investec Champions Cup.
Meanwhile, a fifth South African franchise, the Cheetahs, who are not currently involved in the URC, are competing in Europe’s second-tier Challenge Cup competition.
By contrast, interest has waned in Super Rugby, once renowned as the southern hemisphere’s leading club tournament.
Jackman, who represented Connacht, Leinster and Ireland as a hooker during his playing days, did not mince his words when asked for his view on the current Super Rugby Pacific tournament.
“I don’t mean to be disrespectful, but I’ve kind of lost a bit of love for it,” he told the DSPN Rugby podcast with Martin Devlin. “And even chatting to all my friends and rugby pundits over here, it’s just kind of gone off our radar a little bit.
“We don’t watch as much of it as we did. We grew up with that.
Exit of South African teams a contributing factor
“It was the best rugby in the world. But the South Africans have gone out of it. We’re lucky, they obviously came our way. But yeah, I still try and watch as much as I can.
“But I don’t know, it just doesn’t seem to have the same edge to it. And I could be totally wrong.”
He revealed that since Super Rugby lost its allure, he now prefers to watch the Top 14, where France’s best talent and a plethora of international stars are on display.
“Certainly in the Northern Hemisphere, we’re now watching more Top 14, which we never would have,” said Jackman.
“We never would have in the past. We would have watched Super Rugby. And that’s me as an absolute rugby junkie and I love it.
“Yeah, it’s kind of gone off our radar a little bit.”