Hawke’s Bay out of Super race

6 Aug 2009

Hawke’s Bay have retracted their Super 15 franchise bid but Taranaki have provided a ‘professional’ case for inclusion.

Australia’s New South Wales Country Union pulled out of the race on Tuesday, and now Hawke’s Bay have done the same. Taranaki, along with the Southern Kings and Melbourne – who are favourites for the extra spot when expansion takes place in 2011 – all remain in the race.

‘It was very, I wouldn’t necessarily say compelling, but it was very professional,’ NZRU GM of Professional Rugby Neil Sorensen told the Dominion Post regarding Taranaki’s bid.

‘We will take a closer look next week and then consider whether or not we should endorse the bid further at Sanzar level. We’ve said all along that it’s unlikely [a sixth New Zealand franchise], but this was a comprehensive bid. You have to take your hat off to them.’

Sanzar will look at the respective bids from the countries in September, with a decision expected in October.


20 Comments

  • 1.WP_: Reply to this comment
    6 Aug 2009, 08:23 am

    Hawks dragons.

  • 2.WP_: Reply to this comment
    6 Aug 2009, 08:25 am

    I still think, the fairest solution is to give the 15th francise to the aussies, then they’ll be 5 from each country.

  • 3.Dantalian: Reply to this comment
    6 Aug 2009, 09:20 am

    No ****. Now there’s a surprise. :roll:

  • 4.WP_: Reply to this comment
    6 Aug 2009, 09:33 am

    #3 Dantalian: Shut it.

    What i’m saying is, they musnt give it to the Kings

  • 5.Mutant: Reply to this comment
    6 Aug 2009, 09:35 am

    #2 WP_: Look at the Reds next season, players have left and they will be horrendous. Force will also struggle a lot. The simple fact is that Aus don’t have the numbers or quality of players to sustain a fifth franchise.
    My vote goes with a Pacific Islanders team first, to add some real spice to the competition. And a sixth SA team second.

  • 6.WP_: Reply to this comment
    6 Aug 2009, 09:38 am

    #5 Mutant: You reckon the Reds will still be worse than the Cheetahs AND the Lions, somehow I doubt it. Sure Barnes was far and away thier best player but they’ll fight.

  • 7.Dantalian: Reply to this comment
    6 Aug 2009, 09:41 am

    #4 WP_: My comment was aimed at the headline not your post. :roll:

  • 8.Dantalian: Reply to this comment
    6 Aug 2009, 09:43 am

    I’m surprised no anger management consultants advertise on Keo.

    Potential goldmine here. :wink: :lol:

  • 9.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    6 Aug 2009, 10:16 am

    #6 WP_: Exactly! The Reds and Force still manage to annually finish higher than the embarrassing Cheetahs and Lions.

    So why would anyone in their right minds want to dilute the SA teams even more? :shock:

    Give it to Melbourne, the most deserving (they only lost out to the Force by a sparrow’s **** the last time) and it’s a chance to encourage rugby union in a new regions – good for the game.

  • 10.Beertjie: Reply to this comment
    6 Aug 2009, 10:32 am

    Combine Bulls and Lions and give 5th SA franchise to EC.

  • 11.wooden spoon: Reply to this comment
    6 Aug 2009, 10:55 am

    #10 Beertjie: Why? The Bulls seem to be doing ok as is. Why ‘fix’ something that isn’t broken?

    The Cats showed just how unlikely it is for an amalgamated franchise of 2 proud unions to work in the long run.

    Ditch the Kings until there is another Super expansion on the cards (and there will be one) and for now focus on getting the Lions and Cheetahs up to scratch.

    Let the Aussies worry about depth – they’re smart enough to figure it out.

  • 12.WP_: Reply to this comment
    6 Aug 2009, 11:05 am

    #7 Dantalian: sorry bud.

  • 13.WP_: Reply to this comment
    6 Aug 2009, 11:09 am

    #10 Beertjie: the Bulls seriously do not need the Lions players to ‘get in the way’ of a good thing in Pretoria!

  • 14.XhosaKid: Reply to this comment
    6 Aug 2009, 11:19 am

    #8 Dantalian: or “change management” consultants

  • 15.Beertjie: Reply to this comment
    6 Aug 2009, 11:47 am

    #11 wooden spoon: #13 WP_: I am a Bulls supporter. Maybe combine was the wrong word. Keep the Bulls and make the Lions part of the Bulls. How many first choice Lions players will make the Bulls side in anycase? I know of a lot of Lions supporters who came through to Pta to watch the Bulls play in the S14 semi and final. Infact, for many Jo’burgers its easier to attend a Loftus math than an Ellis park match. In 2011 the gautrain will be here with the Hatfield station walking distance from Loftus.

    You cannot compare combining Btn and Jhb to combining Pta and Jhb.

  • 16.David: Reply to this comment
    6 Aug 2009, 11:50 am

    I’m surprised North Harbour didn’t put in a bid as the 6th SA franchise. :grin:

  • 17.Dantalian: Reply to this comment
    6 Aug 2009, 12:55 pm

    #12 WP_: No problemo.. :smile:

  • 18.stew: Reply to this comment
    6 Aug 2009, 12:59 pm

    #16 David: Got the players and it would be good for the area

  • 19.cane: Reply to this comment
    6 Aug 2009, 13:06 pm

    #18 stew:

    Yes Stew, would also give us (NZ) good cause to put an electric fence around the pricks, and only let them out on production of a visa.

  • 20.katman: Reply to this comment
    6 Aug 2009, 13:10 pm

    #19 cane: The Israel of the South Pacific :)

Keo.co.za has always promoted uncensored views, but has never tolerated racist or crass outbursts. Come on guys and girls. If you can't moderate yourselves or each other then I am going to be forced to regulate the posts and enforce a registration process for comments. The choice is yours.

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