RUGBY
Sanzar show united front
Posted Sat, 14 Jul 2007

Sanzar reaffirmed their Tri-Nations and Super 14 partnership on Friday, but acknowledged they could not afford to continue delivering diluted rugby series to the broadcasters and supporters.

Speaking at a press conference in Christchurch on Friday, Sanzar chairman John O'Neill (Australia), along with Steve Tew (New Zealand) and Jonathon Stones (South Africa), said they saw the issue being dealt with in the International Rugby Board (IRB) conference.

They will push for the integration of a global season when the IRB meeting takes place in November.

However, on Friday Sanzar officials acknowledged they could not allow a repeat of this year when the All Blacks withdrew 22 players from the Super 14 while the Springboks rested players from the Tri-Nations.

"We agreed we won't let it happen again," O'Neill said.

Television companies from New Zealand, Australia and South Africa told the rugby officials, politely but firmly, that any further failures would have financial consequences.

Sanzar said they want to restore the prestige of internationals as the rugby pinnacle rather than the second-rate matches too many of them have become because of competing club competitions or World Cup priorities.

It would be a case of working within unions and coaches, broadcasters, sponsors and fans, O'Neill said.

No methodology was decided upon, but there had been a 'very definitive' airing of the issues concerned.

Tew added that another aspect of the discussion centred on how best to manage the workload on players and this was the subject of a study by Sanzar at the moment.

The trio reported that much of the meeting has also been devoted to working on the future of the rugby alliance beyond 2010, when the broadcasting agreement runs out.

Stones said the issue of South Africa possibly breaking away to join European competitions was not an issue.

"We are committed to going forward down this road," he said of the Sanzar future.

O'Neill said the value of the joint venture should not be lost sight of.

"It has provided truly the world's international provincial championship.

"The best of the best are playing against each other every week. It has wonderful ingredients and the value drivers [money] are significantly enhanced by South Africa's involvement," he said.

As far as the future was concerned O'Neill said it could be that something involving Argentina, or the Pacific Islands, Japan, the United States and Canada could emerge.

Much work would be done in the next 18 months as they worked on a lot of data and ideas.

The group also spent time looking at the increasing encroachment of Northern Hemisphere clubs into taking younger players from the Sanzar block.

O'Neill said it was previously the case that players went at the end of their careers but this was changing. Players were being enticed to go overseas earlier for money, lifestyle and to get out of the public eye where they couldn't be recognised and the countries had to be careful talent wasn't eroded in each of the nations.

365