Argentina takes big step towards Super (17) Rugby

Super Rugby organisers SANZAR have announced that they have a “preferred model” including Argentina for the future Super Rugby format beyond 2015 that will be put forward for approval.

SANZAR’s Executive Committee met in Sydney on Thursday to discuss the future of Super Rugby including possible formats that could be presented to broadcasters.

Speaking after the meeting SANZAR CEO Greg Peters said, “Today’s meeting was another important step in deciding the future of Super Rugby.”

“Encouraging progress was made and we now have a preferred model that involves six teams from South Africa and a new team from Argentina,” said Peters.

“The model will now be taken to the National Unions for approval before SANZAR presents its final position to broadcasters and fans in due course.”

The current Super Rugby broadcast agreement expires at the end of 2015 (31st of December 2015) and the tournament was already expected to expand to include the sixth South African franchise the Southern Kings.

The inclusion of a team from Argentina would take the number of teams to 17 so local derbies could be dropped and Super Rugby could go back to it’s original format of every team playing the other teams with venues alternating year on year.

Organisers don’t want to extend the length of the Super Rugby season and are also mindful of the amount of travel and the stresses it puts on players bodies.

The new model still has to be approved by the SANZAR Member Unions of South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.