Super Rugby Pacific is nearing its end for the year, but it seems that rugby fans have already turned their attention to international squads and the forthcoming French Rugby World Cup. Super Rugby Pacific has come and gone in a flash. English and South African rugby fans seem to appreciate the Premiership Rugby or the European Champions Cup and URC, respectively, more than Super Rugby Pacific. However, the Fijian Drua has proven to be the most impressive new addition to the competition, injecting enthusiasm and team identity that the other teams sometimes lack.
The rugby sport in Australia is going through a significant decline, and the current competition has done little to rectify the issue. Attendances have been underwhelming, and in-game performances have been generally poor. The competition needs to address the financial realities of rugby and identify ways to provide a world-class tournament. For instance, expanding the competition across the Pacific to include a team from Japan or Hawaii would be unnecessarily costly.
The administrators of Rugby Australia and New Zealand Rugby seek to improve Super Rugby Pacific. Still, fans suggest that the competition should provide the highest standard of rugby and create an intense international test match experience, as opposed to being merely a training camp for national squads.
Rugby fans want to see the best opposite numbers from different nations pitted regularly against each other and every game being a trial match. If Super Rugby Pacific achieves this, it becomes much more exciting and valuable to the global market. Moreover, traditional rivalries which no longer carry the state of origin quality they once had will be replaced with individual superstars’ qualities from different teams.
Moreover, the current teams from both countries can never be left behind, but the competition should be recalibrated into something more fit for purpose. It could become the first step towards professionalism for up-and-coming rugby players, especially from Shute Shield, Hospitals Cup, or even FMG Premier Grade. This approach can unlock the full potential of the Oceania region and even the Americas and make the Antipodeans the envy of the rugby world once more.
Rugby Australia and New Zealand Rugby need to cooperate for the greater good and consider carefully the precarious nature of the business of rugby. They should avoid falling victim to hubris and the lure of quick private equity dollar hits. If they become successful in their endeavor to unlock the full potential of the Oceania region and the Americas, they can create a marker for how rugby can be played and branded as a global sport. Rugby can be exciting, intense, and lucrative and be played at the highest standard while providing fans with an unforgettable experience.
