Rugby Union Players Association Pushes To Cut South Africa Trips For Super Rugby Teams

The Rugby Union Players Association "believes switching to a two-conference Super Rugby model, effectively a trans-Tasman competition in which South Africa would be involved only in the playoffs stage, is in Australia’s best interests," according to Wayne Smith of THE AUSTRALIAN. RUPA CEO Greg Harris said that his organization "had commissioned research into where Super Rugby should be heading once the new broadcast deal comes into effect in 2016 and the strong early preference was for a two-conference system." RUPA’s findings "would appeal to Australia’s Super Rugby franchises." They are concerned that SANZAR’s plans "to expand the current three-conference, 15-team competition to an 18-team, four-conference format in 2016 would eliminate two lucrative local derby matches each season on which they rely financially" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 2/28).