Sir John Kirwan declares Super Rugby ‘over’ as New Zealand needs to get back to ‘tribalism and traditionalism’
Reds taking on the Chiefs in Super Rugby Pacific and All Blacks legend Sir John Kirwan.
All Blacks legend Sir John Kirwan insists it is time for change and that New Zealand must move on from Super Rugby.
The southern hemisphere tournament was created after the game went professional in 1995 and for a period was the strongest club competition in the sport.
However, interest has waned over the years and the loss of the South Africa franchises has not helped matters, even if their exit was inevitable according to former NZ Rugby chair Brent Impey.
Super Rugby’s financial problems
Super Rugby Pacific was set up in an attempt to get it back on track but finances have been an issue with Melbourne Rebels going bust in 2024.
Moana Pasifika will go the same way unless a buyer is found, meaning that it will go down from 12 to 10 teams in 2027 if nothing alters.
Kirwan does not believe that it is a product which is capturing the fans’ interest despite the on-field entertainment and feels it is the time for radical change.
“I believe that Super Rugby has been amazing for us for the last 30 years but I think it’s over. I think we need to redefine it, we need to understand what it is and I believe that we need to get back to tribalism and traditionalism,” he said on the Rivals podcast.
“If it was me, I would bring in another three New Zealand sides and I would say to the Australians, ‘why don’t you bring back Randwick?’ And we play like an NRL.
“But also, the other thing that needs to change in rugby is we need to divide up the money differently. We need some television rights for the franchises so they can start being professional and start surviving by themselves.”
The derbies have consistently drawn the best crowds in New Zealand and Kirwan wants the sport’s decision-makers to play on those rivalries.
“It’s time for change, it’s time to have courage and I think tribalism and traditionalism is what great sport nations go on,” he said.
“You meet someone from England, ‘where do you come from?’ and they say: ‘Manchester.’ Well are they United or City? You ask them and they will go, ‘my team’s Tottenham’ for example or in rugby, will go Harlequins.
“We need to take a real good look at rugby. We had courage to go professional 30 years ago and we need to have courage now.
“In the northern hemisphere, I think France is going great, I believe the English game is really buoyant with big crowds, but in the southern hemisphere we’re getting smaller crowds and I just thing we need to have come courage to make some change, and I think that’s tribalism and traditionalism.”
Springboks legend’s view
Springboks legend Victor Matfield, who joined Kirwan on the show, then chimed in, insisting that it is something South Africa have got right at youth level.
“You talk about tribalism and I think that’s what we get in South Africa with schoolboy rugby at the moment. All these big schoolboy games get at least 20,000, it’s sold out. It’s packed every weekend. Every weekend there are three or four big derbies,” Matfield said.
However, that enthusiasm is less prevalent in the professional game. While franchises have drawn bigger crowds for the all-South African clashes, they are finding it more difficult to shift tickets for the other games.
“The Bulls play at Loftus right next to it and they don’t get 20,000 people and that shouldn’t be like that,” Matfield added.
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“They (the fans) do get it but they get it when they play the Stormers or they play the Sharks, or even when they play the Leinster’s or the Munster’s, but when we play Zebre, Benetton or one of the Welsh sides, people don’t come to the games. They would rather sit at home or go to school games.
“That part of the game, South Africans haven’t caught onto it and it’s the same thing with the Champions Cup.
“For me that’s the best competition to play in. If you want to be considered the best club team in the world, you need to win the Champions Cup, but the South African fans haven’t bought into it.”
