Super rugby’s future hinges on 2010 Super14

Southern hemisphere rugby administrators are looking to this year’s Super 14 tournament to provide a much-needed turnaround in television audience share and fan disillusionment.

Complex rules which have produced games dominated by kicking and a schedule padded with matches of little importance have combined to alienate fans, leaving stadiums partly empty and television audiences at record lows.

Though slow to react, administrators have now acknowledged rugby has lost support because of the poor quality of games and are looking to the Super 14 – traditionally played in an entertaining style – to lure back jaded fans.

Super 14 officials are working with referees to address acknowledged “problem areas” in the game – principally the tackled ball, the scrum and offside play at kick returns – which impede continuity, inhibit attack or yield an advantage to defensive teams.

New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive Steve Tew said at the 2010 tournament launch in Auckland that rugby had to deliver matches of the quality fans expect.

“We sat down at review time last year, referees, coaches, leading players and administrators, and all agreed we needed to put some effort into it,” Tew said.

“We’re not blind to the fact there’s been a decline (in support), particularly in New Zealand and Australia,” Tew said.

The addition of a Melbourne-based team next year will greatly increase the number of matches played in the