Does Mehrts have a point?
Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2019 8:33 pm
Recently, Andrew Mehrtens stated that NZ and Australian rugby would be better off leaving Super Rugby entirely, and linking up with Japanese rugby.
The South Africans have constantly been talking about linking with Europe, and the Cheetahs and Kings have successfully transitioned into Pro14.
The Jags could link up with Major League Rugby.
Australian rugby already has strong links with Japan, and in terms of time zones, it's far less a logistical issue for NZ audiences.
So, does he have a point?
Pros:
If the Super Rugby teams join up with the Top League, the more condensed structure would allow for better rest for players.
Mehrts has suggested allowing All Blacks to sign with Japanese teams, extending eligibility to Asian teams.
It provides an opportunity for the Sunwolves to survive (as perhaps an ANZAC Exiles team, like the original form of London Irish/Scottish/Welsh) and for the Force to be re-integrated.
The Top League pool structure and tiers allows for fresh match-ups.
The condensed nature of the competition means players are fresher for the mid-year tests, and could allow for a return of current All Blacks to the Provincial teams, where they're perhaps, not getting any value for money (Counties, for example, had SBW and Read - they at least for SBW for a few games, but how many times did Read put on the red, black and white?). The break that the players gets means that putting tests in at June won't cause any significant disruption, and could also allow for more room to accommodate Japan into an expanded Rugby Champs competition, and god knows they need regular game time against top level opponents, whom they have proven they could beat on any given day.
Cons:
The Top League this season already features 24 teams, which can potentially cause a serious bloat in the competition. Adding 11 teams (5 NZ teams, 5 Aussie teams plus the Sunwolves) would overload the league.
Logistically, when would it be played? The current league is played just after the November tours to early in the next year. Would this mean that it would have to be shifted to, say, January~April or thereabouts? That's not even accounting for the potential bloat caused by adding 10+ teams.
The South Africans have constantly been talking about linking with Europe, and the Cheetahs and Kings have successfully transitioned into Pro14.
The Jags could link up with Major League Rugby.
Australian rugby already has strong links with Japan, and in terms of time zones, it's far less a logistical issue for NZ audiences.
So, does he have a point?
Pros:
If the Super Rugby teams join up with the Top League, the more condensed structure would allow for better rest for players.
Mehrts has suggested allowing All Blacks to sign with Japanese teams, extending eligibility to Asian teams.
It provides an opportunity for the Sunwolves to survive (as perhaps an ANZAC Exiles team, like the original form of London Irish/Scottish/Welsh) and for the Force to be re-integrated.
The Top League pool structure and tiers allows for fresh match-ups.
The condensed nature of the competition means players are fresher for the mid-year tests, and could allow for a return of current All Blacks to the Provincial teams, where they're perhaps, not getting any value for money (Counties, for example, had SBW and Read - they at least for SBW for a few games, but how many times did Read put on the red, black and white?). The break that the players gets means that putting tests in at June won't cause any significant disruption, and could also allow for more room to accommodate Japan into an expanded Rugby Champs competition, and god knows they need regular game time against top level opponents, whom they have proven they could beat on any given day.
Cons:
The Top League this season already features 24 teams, which can potentially cause a serious bloat in the competition. Adding 11 teams (5 NZ teams, 5 Aussie teams plus the Sunwolves) would overload the league.
Logistically, when would it be played? The current league is played just after the November tours to early in the next year. Would this mean that it would have to be shifted to, say, January~April or thereabouts? That's not even accounting for the potential bloat caused by adding 10+ teams.