No support for 'open' market

2008-02-05 08:01

Auckland - The free player market in the Super 14, suggested by Crusaders coach Robbie Deans, won't happen for at least three years, New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive Steve Tew said on Tuesday.

And even if there were moves to introduce it after Sanzar's current broadcast contract with its sponsor, there was likely to be strong opposition in New Zealand, as the competition was seen as crucial to player development and the success of the All Blacks, reports the NZ Herald.

Tew said the Super 14 may have a very different look after the end of Sanzar's current contract, which had another three seasons to run, but New Zealand's situation was vastly different to Australia's.

Unlike Australia, New Zealand had a strong domestic competition largely responsible for player development, he said.

The Super 14 bridged New Zealand players' development between domestic and international rugby.

New Wallabies coach Robbie Deans suggested an open player market in the Super 14 on Monday.

Australia were also looking for a two-round Super 14 instead of one round.

Former All Blacks coach Laurie Mains backed Tew, saying New Zealand Super 14 teams should be for New Zealand players.

"I personally believe that the Super 14 should be for New Zealand players and the development of New Zealand players to make stronger All Blacks teams," Mains said.

Tew said several other changes, such as an introduction of a Pacific Island team and Argentina's inclusion, had been talked about by Sanzar.

"We've said all along that at the end of this broadcasting contract, which is three years away, Super rugby may well look very different to the way it looks a now," he told Radio Sport.

"We've discussed in previous years whether it would be worth bringing some of northern hemisphere stars in (to the Super 14).

"Our view currently, and this is the way we have operated - we want to have as many New Zealand eligible players in the competition as we can because these are the guys we choose the All Blacks from and ultimately we want to be able to pick the most competitive All Blacks side we possibly can.

"We have had the odd overseas player play here. We clearly have a more liberal view right now than the Australians do on Pacific Island players, for example." Tew said expanding the Super 14 would affect their international calendar.

"South Africa and New Zealand have very strong domestic competitions, the Aussies have really struggled to get a domestic competition going," he said.

"They have just recently canned their own version of the Air New Zealand Cup, so they want more rugby.

"Arguably we would probably like a little bit less, but we've got to make sure it's the right rugby that attract us to the fans, is enjoyable and appropriate for our players and to their development." The NZRU also have a strong policy of picking All Blacks from players who are playing in New Zealand only.

"We do hold concerns that if we started picking All Blacks from outside of New Zealand then our own domestic competition, the Air New Zealand Cup, which many observers would argue as being the foundation for the success of the All Blacks over a long period of time would be seriously threatened. It would be a very big call." Mains said the Air NZ Cup has always been the foundation of New Zealand first class rugby and disagreed with suggestions that it was losing its strength, citing Hawke's Bay's success as an example.

Deans said an open market would create more interest in the Super 14.

"Our market is not as big and we don't have the same ability to generate revenue as they have in the northern hemisphere and we are suffering at the hands of the northern hemisphere, in terms of player drain," he said.

"We have to find a way of catering for the players' professional needs in the southern hemisphere.

"The only way to do that is to expand the professional window, that's the only way we can compete in the global market."

- SAPA