Radical rugby overhaul planned
The Super 14 rugby franchise could be heading for the scrap heap according to reports.
The Wellington based Dominion Post reported on Tuesday that nine powerful provincial rugby unions have been discussing a concept that would see the Super 14 and Air New Zealand Cup scrapped in favour of a 14 team trans-Tasman trophy and international Heineken Cup-style competition.
The unions, including; North Harbour, Auckland, Waikato, Wellington, Canterbury, Otago, Taranaki, Hawke's Bay and Southland have been discussing the radical new format behind closed doors for the past six-to-eight weeks - according to the Post.
End of S14
An unnamed source told the newspaper that the unions have been working on a professional template that would see the Air NZ Cup replaced by a European- style competition running from March to October, adding that the unions are "unanimous that Super rugby has reached the end of its life"
The "Heineken Cup" tournament would run along side the trans-Tasman competition, with 24 teams in four pools of six playing matches every four weeks and would include the top sides ranked on the preceding season's results with teams from New Zealand, South Africa, Japan, the USA, Pacific Islands and possibly Hong Kong.
Kirwan consulted
The source also told the newspaper that former All Black and current Japan national coach John Kirwan had played a part in the discussions and that New Zealand's players had been consulted and were also behind the concept.
If given the go-ahead, the trans-Tasman trophy would include nine New Zealand provinces with five teams from Australia, and would be played on a home and away basis.
It is unclear whether the NZRU have been made aware of the issue, but the report said Australian Rugby Union CEO John O'Neill had been briefed about the plans over the weekend with the unions scheduled to meet again in the coming week to "finalise their thoughts."[/b]
