Highlander playmaker Josh Ioane played for Moana Pasifika against the Māori All Blacks last year. PHIL WALTER / GETTY IMAGES
Andy Marinos, CEO of Rugby Australia, has downplayed any proposal to block Moana Pasifika and the Fijian Drua from joining Super Rugby from 2022, but has indicated that there are doubts throughout the ditch persist in their readiness.
Moana Pasifika and the Fijian Drua were granted conditional licenses from New Zealand rugby last month when Mark Robinson, CEO of NZ Rugby, said they had more hurdles to overcome and Rugby Australia had to be on board too .
However, speaking to reporters on Friday, Marinos said it was difficult to get an accurate picture of the progress of the offers and that the competitiveness of the sites had been an issue.
« It is difficult to answer this question as not all detailed information comes in about us, but about New Zealand rugby, « said Marinos.
» We know she needed this window by June 30th n to create the necessary funding and structure.
« I think we’ve highlighted the fact … they will be able to put together the necessary roster in time so they can put together teams that will go through the process will be very competitive? «
» But we’re just following the advice of NZ Rugby and waiting to see where they land with all the different components and the various obstacles they have reached before June 30th. « </ When asked if Rugby Australia would automatically give the two new teams the green light for 2022 when NZ Rugby saw them ready, Marinos said, "We never said we would not support their participation."
« We appreciate, of course, that this is a New Zealand-led initiative. Although some information about their readiness was received at the time of the announcement, this is well documented.
« But going forward, we’ll see if all the boxes can be ticked and if they give us a greater sense of comfort that they are can stand up on their own. «
The lack of full support from Moana Pasifika from Rugby Australia and the involvement of the Fijian Drua could also be due to Marino’s hard-earned experience.
Marinos assumed the position of CEO of Sanzaar in 2016, the year the competition expanded to 18 teams, and although it had nothing to do with that strategic decision, he had to defend it for much of his tenure.
The Sunwolves’ struggles to win many football games in this one Time also showed the price of starting a franchise that should fail, and Marino’s prudence towards the Pa’s two new teams Sanzaar may reflect some of the lessons learned from that time.
Marinos was also CEO of Sanzaar when he turned down a Fijian offer to join Super Rugby in 2018.
The structure and format of the 2022 competition is still to come Set in late June, when it becomes known whether Moana Pasifika and the Fijian Drua have received full licenses.
The success of the Super Rugby AU competition gave Rugby Australia something to think about, Marinos said, but he also pointed out that a “full” Trans-Tasman competition with 10 or 12 teams is still the likely way forward.
« What we saw was really encouraging, » he said. « The excitement, the fact that we’re getting an Aussie winner during the week, and we haven’t been able to find and bring in a lot of new young talent.
» All of our metrics are being tracked up. Our show, our audience is up, attendance is positive. This is all part of the new era we are entering … but I think the Trans-Tasman has a lot of value.
Rugby Australia Chairman Hamish McLennan previously told Stuff that private equity investors favored the Trans-Tasman format, while New Zealand players declared with their influential voice that they wanted to play against Australian teams.
Marinos also said reports of the Bledisloe Cup were on three consecutive weekends at this point in time, that discussions were being held with NZ Rugby about the dates for the Bledisloe Cup and the rugby championship.
Ref: https://www.fijitimes.com
