Former Australian rugby player Greg Martin said that SANZAR (South Africa, New Zealand and Australia Rugby) is hindering Super Rugby side ACT Brumbies by failing to guarantee it a permanent Anzac Day fixture and has labeled its decision "to ban the national anthems as ridiculous," according to David Polkinghorne of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. The Brumbies want to make Anzac Day "a permanent part of the rugby landscape in the nation's capital by playing a New Zealand team every year." Martin said that it is "a no-brainer," but Super Rugby controlling body SANZAR is refusing to guarantee it, saying that "scheduling is too complicated to ensure it happens every season." That is "despite rugby sitting in a precarious financial position in Australia and needing all the help it can get." His thoughts on its decision to prevent the Brumbies from playing the Australian and New Zealand national anthems before the game "were equally damning." Martin: "The two on Friday should both have the national anthems, that's just ridiculous" (SMH, 4/21).
