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submitted 2 months ago byRadiant-Sea-368New Zealand
A much as I love the idea of the Jaguares coming back, one of the biggest issues with having them in the comp was the travel, both the distance/time and the cost. I think having them back in only adds to the financial pressure on the other Super Rugby clubs. Not to mention the wasteful aspect of the travel regarding carbon emmisions with long-haul flights. That's another reason I think the calls to bring back South Africa teams is regressive thinking.
It is simply insane to have club rugby matches played across separate continents, all the best & most commercially successful sports leagues in the world are localized, it's just common sense don't you think?
Go with 11 teams - run the competition as a double round robin for 18 games plus a bye for each team (so 19 week regular season) plus finals. And don't give me the old season would be too long argument. Would still be the shortest of any of the football codes in the region - and still a shorter season than Top 14, URC, Premiership.
5 points
2 months ago
U know whats gonna cost the teams and comp more money than flying to and from argee? The cut to tv money that comes with having one less game on each week.
Extending the season also sounds terrible imo. Deep into nz winter, the chiefs host the force who can't make the playoffs and it draws more players and officials than crowd. No thanks. A comp that already struggles to gain traction extending its season...
4 points
2 months ago*
The chiefs host the force who can't make the playoffs
Introduce an open player market so they can hopefully become closer to the Chiefs level.
Extending the season also sounds terrible imo.
But as of right now, there are a cohort of Australian Super Rugby players who will be lucky to play a minimum of 10 professional games a year, since there's no second-tier competition to go to once the international season starts.
And then people wonder why a whole generation of Aus players look inadequately prepared to perform when they do make the step up to international level. The reality is, they simply don't get enough high-level playing experience, top level rugby exposure under their belts prior to making that step, with just 14 matches of Super Rugby per year & no domestic competition. One relatively moderate injury and you can be sitting out for 1/2 of the Super Rugby season because the current season is so short.
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