Super 8 plan causes concern

SYDNEY - The New Zealand Rugby Union has raised concerns about a proposed Super 8 competition next year, designed to develop second-tier nations.

The competition, which is expected to be endorsed and funded by the International Rugby Board, features Australia's four Super 14 teams plus Japan, Fiji, Samoa and Tonga.

While supporting the concept, NZRFU chief executive Chris Moller told a Sydney newspaper that Australia would benefit unfairly if the competition was fully financed by the IRB, and the Australian Rugby Union should pay its own way.

Moller believed that - although the tournament was primarily designed to foster rugby in the Pacific - Australia's second-tier players would also benefit and the ARU should pay for the privilege.

"We don't oppose the competition per se, but our preliminary view would be that the IRB should fund the Pacific Island nations and Australia should be funding their part of the tournament," Moller told the Sun-Herald newspaper.

"We're certainly asking questions. Not always the first proposition that comes to the table is the one that finally is successful, largely because it gets improved upon and becomes beneficial to everybody, and that's certainly what New Zealand rugby wants to see."

The NZRFU is believed to favour an expanded international programme involving Australia A and the Junior All Blacks up against tier-two nations, and has put this idea to the IRB's executive committee.

"We've had the executive committee of the IRB in New Zealand holding meetings and there were certainly discussions at that time," Moller said.

"There are other possibilities being talked about and we are part of those discussions.

"There's the Junior All Blacks and New Zealand Maori. We had discussions with the Pacific Islands months ago about the possibility of that sort of competition.

"We've told the IRB we're keen for the Junior All Blacks to play tier-two nations, and not necessarily just the South Pacific ones."

The NZRFU is also worried that the Super 8 could clog an already congested schedule and may have a detrimental effect on the domestic NPC by removing talented Pacific Island players at crucial times.

"From our point of view, we do have next year's Super 14. We then go straight into the test series just as Australia does, and then we have our club competition and NPC," Moller said.

"So windows are quite tight for us and player welfare is a very important issue to be considered.

"Have we asked the question about timing? Yes we have and we've had some indications of when the timing will be and those are things we'll continue to clarify."

Despite New Zealand's concerns, the IRB expects the Super 8 to go ahead when the executive committee meets in Dublin on August 3.

"The IRB is in charge of almost 100 member unions so no one union - whether it be New Zealand or anyone else - tells the IRB what it should do," board spokesman Greg Thomas said.

"This tournament was designed to help the development of Pacific nations and it is very close to becoming a reality."

- NZPA