Super Rugby future deal in place; likely 15 teams

Steve Tew

Super rugby has survived after Sanzar partners worked out a deal this morning at a meeting in Dublin.

While the details of the deal would be kept under wraps until the agreement had been reported back to the respective unions, New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive Steve Tew indicated the competition would be expanded in 2011 to 15 teams from the present 14.

"We have previously outlined the Super 15 option and... that will be part of the detail but I'd rather not go further than that at this stage," Tew said from Dublin this morning.

"All three parties are keen to give their shareholders an insight into what has been agreed to before we go public - it was particularly important for the South Africans, and we agreed to that.

"At some stage next week when they have completed that process, we'll give you that detail."

All the options had been outlined in the buildup to the meeting so there would be no surprises.

" We had a productive meeting, all three parties came to Dublin to try and find a solution and we are delighted to have been able to do that.

"Everyone had to make some compromises, fair to say we are all satisfied - there is no one overly joyed and no one bitterly disappointed."

The NZRU had gone to the meeting armed with some compromises and some non-negotiables and Tew said it was comfortable with the result and agreed the best interests of New Zealand had been maintained.

"We would have not agreed to anything less but sometimes you have to compromise and it was our view that it is in the best interest of New Zealand rugby to remain in a three-way joint venture with Australia and South Africa."

South Africa had fallen out with the other two nations over details of the plan to expand the Super 14 to 15 teams from 2011 and there were fears that they would break away from the competition.

South Africa wanted to retain the February start to what would be a longer competition with an added team, while New Zealand and Australia wanted a later start which would impinge on South Africa's Currie Cup and into the international season.

Australia and South Africa were also competing for the 15th team.

Tew said the Tri-Nations tournament was never under threat and work to expand it with the inclusion of Argentina was continuing.

" We had a meeting with Argentina here and that (expansion) remains a work in progress, it is still to be determined if we can add them."

The current SANZAR agreement on Super 14 expires at the end of 2010 and the partners are due to present a new proposed structure to broadcasters at the end of June.

- NZPA