Melbourne clinches S15 spot
11 Nov 2009
Melbourne has beaten the Southern Kings in the race for a Super Rugby franchise.
An Expert Determination Panel was asked by the Sanzar Executive Committee to decide on the location of the 15th Super Rugby team. The Experts were former World Cup-winning captain David Kirk and retired New Zealand High Court Judge, the Hon Barry Paterson QC.
In a statement, Sanzar said the key reasons for the Experts selecting Melbourne over the the Southern Kings from South Africa, were:
· The Experts commented that both applicants were able to point to excellent infrastructure support, and both provided sound business plans and financial forecasts, with the support of their National Unions, guaranteeing financial viability.
· The Southern Kings proposal was more advanced with regard to business and financial planning and organization structure and governance. The Southern Kings were also able to point to a strong rugby tradition, a large playing base and presented a stronger case than Melbourne as to their rugby readiness.
· These strengths of the Southern King’s Application did not, however, offset the benefits in geographical location and commercial value to Sanzar (both of which criteria the Experts were asked to place considerable weight on) that the Melbourne Application was able to deliver.
· The 15th Super Rugby team will play in the Australian Conference under the new Super Rugby competition format from 2011. This means they will play both home and away against the other four Australian Conference teams. As a result the Southern Kings would be required to make two crossings of the Indian Ocean in a season. The local derby aspect of matches in Australia, an important issue for generating attendances and broadcasting value, would also have been diluted and it would not have been possible to schedule at least two matches in each country each weekend. In addition having the team resident in South Africa introduces additional costs to SANZAR of around NZ$720,000 per annum.
· The Melbourne Application provided considerably greater commercial benefit to SANZAR than the Southern Kings Application. Evidence was provided that revenue from the sale of broadcasting rights to Australasian broadcasters would be reduced by US$15-20m over the course of a five year agreement should the 15th team be resident in South Africa, with little or no commensurate rise in the value of South African broadcasting revenue.
148 Comments
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11 Nov 2009, 23:06 pm
#11 WP_: That looks much better than automatic relegation. Like in CC relegation playoffs. Southern Kings must earn their right to be represented in home and away play-offs with the weakest SA team in S15.
11 Nov 2009, 23:13 pm
as if there was going to be any other outcome.
11 Nov 2009, 23:15 pm
can’t we have a return of The Cats? combine Cheetahs and Lions and wham! Southern Kings have a place.
11 Nov 2009, 23:23 pm
#51 Nils:
Hi Nils,
I do not agree – it is time for a change – the weakest team over say 2 seasons must just be replaced by the Spears.
The Spears team will not be in a position to attract top players before they have certainty that they will be in the super 15. Therefore their chances in a play off will be remote – they will have very few top players during such a match and will have not much chance of success.
11 Nov 2009, 23:30 pm
oh hell, why don’t we just play our own conference with six teams then. won’t affect the amount of Saffa teams to reach the next round.
11 Nov 2009, 23:30 pm
#19 WakaNathan:
Who pulled your chain? … you little obnoxious specimen.
You still hanging around??! Like a serious case of PILES – a complete pain in the arse & damn hard to get rid of.
You just can’t help yourself, can you? Have you got nothing better to do? Is this site really the highlight of your life?? Just standback & take a moment to think about how sad you are.
11 Nov 2009, 23:56 pm
Should have done both: Super 16.
Obviously.
12 Nov 2009, 00:54 am
#26 grant10:
take your medicine
12 Nov 2009, 00:55 am
Anyway – using the Currie Cup to identify S15 qualifiers is not a terrible outcome.
12 Nov 2009, 01:07 am
#31 grant10:
and this email is where ?
#34 fsjakes:
#56 jocuba:
cretins, listen up good.
enough with the ‘conspiracy’ this and the doubts of ‘independent’ that.
What does it take for you guys to realise not everything is a conspiracy or corrupted or a sham or motivated towards the undoing of your superior being ?
check out G10 with his theories based on ‘kissing cousins’. What ****, spouting complete nonsense. Why, if a respected senior Judicial figure and a leading businessman and sportsman – both who are Independent in the 3 man partnership – make a decision because 2 stubborn sides wont shift; then why is the only explanation that it must be corrupt, and the individuals are corrupt, and theyre National bodies corrupt with other vested interests.
And fsjakes turns around and says “why are you insulting me” ?!
Who is insulting who here ?
12 Nov 2009, 01:09 am
#56 jocuba:
oh, yippee – look !……1 sad blogger telling the other sad blogger “Just standback & take a moment to think about how sad you are.”.
u-huh
12 Nov 2009, 01:13 am
#61 WakaNathan: Check this out for a laugh, go to google and type in the box “why are south africans” and see what it prompts,
12 Nov 2009, 01:40 am
#62 Waster:
*ouch*
12 Nov 2009, 02:31 am
Jeez Okes, pull it together….NZ 5 teams SA 5 teams Aus 5 teams. That seems fair to me. With the new format, there always had to be equal numbers in each conference.
Guys go and talk to someone about that persecution complex. You will live a longer happier life.
I just get sick of the vitriolic diatribe that comes about (from some, not most) every time something goes against SA.
Childish!
Some one smells of Salt and Vinegar:))))
12 Nov 2009, 03:33 am
I’ll tell you what. There are a couple of Saffas here in Melbourne that are as happy as pigs in sh*t. Finally, some decent sport may come our way.
12 Nov 2009, 05:04 am
#62 Waster: Hey Einstein, why don’t you go to Google and type in the same for your country of origin and see the results?
Does that make you feel secure about yourself or do you want to pull your head out of the sand sometime?
12 Nov 2009, 05:50 am
Forget the conspiracy theories for a moment. Why is that SA with its massive player base has, relatively speaking, such pathetic teams? In a nutshell, I think its administration and training (or lack thereof). SA needs a draft system, a better distribution of resources (money & players), better support for youth programs and the development of more top level coaches. All of this ideally free of quotas.
My guess is that the Griqua’s team could go en masse to Melbourne and, with Melbourne’s choice of training staff, finish above one SA team in their first S14. In their 2nd season, Sarel P and Riaan V would turn out for the 1st string Wallies and possibly Naas O would be a backup fly half.
What do the muppets think?
12 Nov 2009, 06:30 am
#67 husky:
Makes sense,
At any rate a large numer of SAs young players will be taken by the new Melbourne francise anyway
The selection of last Friday’s SA XV Team must be a vindication for many promising young players of things to come
12 Nov 2009, 06:36 am
“Looks at the scoreboard” (Boy Louw)
SA teams routinely occupy most of the pathetic cellar-dwelling last three teams in every year of Super Rugby.
Clearly they are simply not equipped to field an extra sixth team. They’d only add to those annual parade of yarpie losers making up that perennial sorry tail end.
Not so?
12 Nov 2009, 06:40 am
#68 Hondo:
Mapoe
Ludik
Alberts
Vermeulen
Kockett
Vermaak (don’t think he has been capped yet?)
Grant (can’t play for Aus, but still a potential marquee)
Have I missed anyone? We’re short on hookers if there’s any young promising ones you can suggest
12 Nov 2009, 06:59 am
So the Kings got the spear finally. I just hope that Cheeks has learnt his lesson and decides rather to emulate Griquas and qualify for the CC first.
12 Nov 2009, 07:01 am
Tendai “Beast” Mtawarira is out of the Springbok team because he is not a South African national – even though he has already played 15 Tests in the green and gold.
The SA Rugby Union (Saru) had recently asked sport minister Makhenkesi Stofile to help expedite the Zimbabwe-born prop’s South African citizenship, but in a statement on Wednesday night Stofile’s ministry accused the union of poor administration.
“This request to have the Minister use his position to have the process of securing permanent residence and subsequently, citizenship expedited ahead of the year end tour in Europe, has exposed our sport administrators’ clear disrespect or lack of understanding of our laws,” the ministry said.
“Talented as he is, Tendai, like all foreign nationals plying their trade in South Africa, is bound by the laws of this country. The migration laws of our country are clear on issues relating to permanent residence and citizenship. We expect our sport administrators to understand and respect legislation that regulate their business. None of the athletes, sport codes, or federations can be bigger than the country.”
Mtawarira, who is in France with the Bok team, was one of the stars of the side that beat the touring British Lions earlier this year.
“While Tendai is a live wire on the field of play, the question is whether it is, in the first place, justifiable to say he has scarce skills – the rationale that would have enabled him to obtain the current work permit. If we go the route our rugby administrators are requesting us to take, and facilitate the fast-tracking of Tendai’s citizenship, what would this say to all rugby players in our country? We cannot as a
government department responsible for sport and recreation in this country, afford to insult our players like this.
“The principle here is clear: Only citizens of our country can play for our National team, irrespective of the sport code. Therefore, no foreign national can play for any of our national teams, no matter how
outstanding they may be. If any player in any code is to become a South African citizen, this has to be done within the legal framework of our country.”
12 Nov 2009, 07:05 am
Why don’t SA just pull out of Super Rugby. We get shafted in any case everywhere. The Aus and NZ boys are in bed together. I’d rather watch a full strength CC over Super Rugby. I will bet Noakes will also get a semi, it will be less rugby for the players.
12 Nov 2009, 07:07 am
Wow this is a surprise – not.
12 Nov 2009, 07:08 am
#74 PissAnt: Beast out of Bok team as he not a citize…..David…more news boet…wassup here!
12 Nov 2009, 07:11 am
#73 Hop Hop Spinnekop: it is easier to tell the Kings that they are simply out of their depth and should rather uncorrupt themselves and earn a CC place.
12 Nov 2009, 07:22 am
Surely more of the blame has to lie with the silly demands the SARU have come up with recently, than some Oceanic Alliance conspiracy theory?
The SARU agree to a 3-zone, 5-team format, then get mad when a panel decides it isn’t feasible to have a 6th SA team in someone else’s zone?
This coming after they also initially agreed to a 6-team finals format for the previous S14 (a format I thought very feasible), but then demanded it be on the proviso that 2 SA teams were in that top 6 regardless of their actual placing in the competition.
Perhaps rather than just accuse everyone of being against SA, think maybe that if the SARU came up with a practical and beneficial idea for the ongoing success of the Super 14, it would be welcomed much more warmly than some of their other harebrained plans.
12 Nov 2009, 07:24 am
#75 grant10: I believe it was sorted out before the Springboks left for France. Or has it been rehashed?
12 Nov 2009, 07:26 am
#78 Sharksgirl: I also thought so…will be a body blow!
12 Nov 2009, 07:29 am
#79 grant10: I am going to check the KZN papers if Beast has been dropped it will be all over our papers. Give me 5 minutes.
12 Nov 2009, 07:31 am
#79 grant10: Agree that’s a big loss.
I also thought I read on here recently that it was resolved?
Perhaps WP Nel will be the next to be called up.
Unless the Melbourne Rebels get to him first
12 Nov 2009, 07:32 am
Checked both the Witness and the Mercury, nothing on it about Beast not playing, Will check Daily news this afternoon. But I am sure this matter was resolved before the Boks left for France.
12 Nov 2009, 07:41 am
#75 grant10:
Funny how they ‘pushed through’ our now fired soccer coach’s work permit…
12 Nov 2009, 07:43 am
The 15th franchise is a joke anyway. Neither Australia nor SA can support an additional team. SA can’t maintain the 5 that they have for gods sake, in playing terms at least.
We’ll see what happens with the Melbourne franchise, I’m pessimistic. Melbourne isn’t exactly a rugby hotbed and it struggles to sell out for test matches so the crowds will be sparse. Super Rugby is in danger of killing itself chasing the mighty dollar.
12 Nov 2009, 07:46 am
On the Kings issue.
So in short, they (Kings) were the better rugby choice/decision, but Melbourne was the better money spinner?
It is ironic as I said elsewhere…
A couple of years back the Spears would have been given an undeserved place ahead of another SA union/franchise if most reports were to be believed…
Now within the SANZAR ranks, exactly the same has happened…
12 Nov 2009, 07:47 am
#72 David: Well strange as it may seem the govt is probably in the right here – what I’d like to know is how come Beast has been allowed to play 15 tests without citizenship and have the rules changed recently to make it a requirement?
You’d have a very very hard time arguing that SA is short of quality props wouldn’t you?
12 Nov 2009, 07:49 am
#86 jonnymain:
I can only imagine his work permit expired?
12 Nov 2009, 07:49 am
#86 jonnymain:
I am actually more interested in what the IRB will make of this…
12 Nov 2009, 07:53 am
hmmmm… Congratulations to Melbourne… Let’s hope Australia make a fist of it and are able to field a competitive team… without diluting the current ‘strength’of their existing teams.
Let’s also hope SARU doesn’t drop the Southern Kings/Spears ball again and they put the required effort and finance into establishing the Eastern Cape as a real force in SA rugby once and for all…!
12 Nov 2009, 07:54 am
#86 jonnymain: After the Tri-nations and now the Leicester test, perhaps not as hard as it was 2-3 years ago.
12 Nov 2009, 07:56 am
#83 PissAnt: yes…..
12 Nov 2009, 07:59 am
#89 ufo: There are several top level players currently on a 1-year contract, who I suspect have left themselves open to join the new franchise.
Rocky Elsom, Berrick Barnes, and I believe also Drew Mitchell, Josh Valentine, Brett Sheehan and Matt Dunning.
On top of this there will be a few more coming off multi-year contracts at the end of 2010, it will be interesting who else goes.
12 Nov 2009, 08:01 am
and who didn’t see this one coming?
12 Nov 2009, 08:02 am
#87 PissAnt:
I doubt whether it’s just a work permit. Either he qualifies as a resident and citizen, or he doesn’t.
12 Nov 2009, 08:05 am
#88 PissAnt: It sounds to me like a monumental **** up on the part of SARU – why are we not surprised!?
I’m not sure if the IRB will, or can do anything. It’s a matter for the SA government and governing body (SARU) is it not?
12 Nov 2009, 08:07 am
#94 David: I agree with you, The Sharks are professional and they would have ensured that his Work permit was timeously renewed. Afterall its not like he is the 1st international playing for the Sharks
12 Nov 2009, 08:07 am
#92 DonutDunning: But isn’t the talent in Oz spread too thin? Where does this leave the likes of the Reds and Force? You will have to import from abroad I presume in order to be competitive, and this probably means SA because there isn’t enough cash in Super Rugby to attract the top paid players in Europe.
12 Nov 2009, 08:09 am
On another subject, I read the Twitter posts of 2 England cricketers this morning – seems they were caught up in the aftermath of the Rolex gang bust in Sandton. Welcome to SA boys LOL!
12 Nov 2009, 08:10 am
#92 DonutDunning:
Let’s hope…
I just remember some rumblings from Aus when the Force was established that “Aus rugby had been diluted” by the extra team… Hope it doesn’t happen this time…
12 Nov 2009, 08:12 am
Maybe this will further awaken SARU’s administration from their immature loyalty to SANZAR.
SARU really believed SANZAR would decide to award the franchise to the Spears. It completely overlooked financial and geographic considerations.
SARU cannot expect SANZAR to look after its interests. It has to do this itself with a more mature view of the relationship.
SARU is the junior partner to the ANZAC brotherhood. It must act accordingly, not by blind loyalty to the uneven partnership, but by looking after its own interests in the context of this partnership.
There should be boundaries beyond which the ANZAC brotherhood cannot cross, or the partnership ends. Even travel should be one such boundary. Truly impartial and efficient judiciary commissions should be another. And so on.
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