ID :
85465
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 17:14
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/85465
The shortlink copeid
Anti-climax for Melbourne's Super 15 bid
(AAP) - Melbourne's rollercoaster ride towards possible Super 15 inclusion will career on for at least another week after an anti-climactic SANZAR meeting on Wednesday.
The highest-ranking officials from South Africa, New Zealand and Australia failed to
reach an agreement on the location of the new team, sending a turbulent bid process
to arbitration.
The pressure is now on to assemble an independent panel to the satisfaction of all
three SANZAR partners to swiftly decide between Melbourne and South Africa's
Southern Kings for the 15th licence in the expanded 2011 competition.
The successful franchise has less than 12 months before beginning pre-season
training for their inaugural season, and recruitment would need to start early next
year at the latest.
In the end, no vote was taken by the SANZAR executive committee at Brisbane's
Sofitel Hotel as Australian and South African delegates diligently stuck by their
proposed franchises.
With a unanimous decision required by the governing body's six executives, New
Zealand's delegates - Steve Tew and Mike Eagle - were saved from showing their hand
as both joint venture partners unsurprisingly continued to their bullish approaches.
While Melbourne appears to have an almost cast-iron case for inclusion in the
expanded competition - with the new team to play in a five-team Australian
conference - South Africa believe the heavily-populated Eastern Cape region deserves
its own team.
Broadcasters News Ltd are also believed to be behind a Melbourne inclusion, five
years after the Victorian capital was passed over for Perth's Western Force, opening
a large, new market.
If they are unsuccessful, the number of matches to be played in Australia in the
extended season would be 32 instead of 40.
ARU chief executive John O'Neill and chairman Peter McGrath would not comment after
the meeting, which ended before they attended former chairman Leo Williams' funeral
in the city.
But an ARU spokesman believed Melbourne's bid would ultimately shine out to the
yet-to-be appointed arbitrator or arbitrators.
"Obviously we would have liked a positive resolution out of today's meeting but we
remain confident that the Melbourne application is absolutely compelling," he said.
It's been a difficult process for the Victorian Rugby Union who were originally
overlooked by the ARU in favour of the VicSuper15 consortium.
Ultimately both groups were upset when the national body decided to take over the
bid, pieced together by John Wyllie.
It's understood South Africa are doubly keen to succeed in their quest with their
government determined to see the black-populated Eastern Cape included in Super
rugby and established teams railing against a promotion-relegation system if
Melbourne wins out.
The high-veldt Lions and Cheetahs franchises, from Johannesburg and Bloemfontein
respectively, would be most in danger after languishing low on the table in the last
four Super 14 seasons.
The highest-ranking officials from South Africa, New Zealand and Australia failed to
reach an agreement on the location of the new team, sending a turbulent bid process
to arbitration.
The pressure is now on to assemble an independent panel to the satisfaction of all
three SANZAR partners to swiftly decide between Melbourne and South Africa's
Southern Kings for the 15th licence in the expanded 2011 competition.
The successful franchise has less than 12 months before beginning pre-season
training for their inaugural season, and recruitment would need to start early next
year at the latest.
In the end, no vote was taken by the SANZAR executive committee at Brisbane's
Sofitel Hotel as Australian and South African delegates diligently stuck by their
proposed franchises.
With a unanimous decision required by the governing body's six executives, New
Zealand's delegates - Steve Tew and Mike Eagle - were saved from showing their hand
as both joint venture partners unsurprisingly continued to their bullish approaches.
While Melbourne appears to have an almost cast-iron case for inclusion in the
expanded competition - with the new team to play in a five-team Australian
conference - South Africa believe the heavily-populated Eastern Cape region deserves
its own team.
Broadcasters News Ltd are also believed to be behind a Melbourne inclusion, five
years after the Victorian capital was passed over for Perth's Western Force, opening
a large, new market.
If they are unsuccessful, the number of matches to be played in Australia in the
extended season would be 32 instead of 40.
ARU chief executive John O'Neill and chairman Peter McGrath would not comment after
the meeting, which ended before they attended former chairman Leo Williams' funeral
in the city.
But an ARU spokesman believed Melbourne's bid would ultimately shine out to the
yet-to-be appointed arbitrator or arbitrators.
"Obviously we would have liked a positive resolution out of today's meeting but we
remain confident that the Melbourne application is absolutely compelling," he said.
It's been a difficult process for the Victorian Rugby Union who were originally
overlooked by the ARU in favour of the VicSuper15 consortium.
Ultimately both groups were upset when the national body decided to take over the
bid, pieced together by John Wyllie.
It's understood South Africa are doubly keen to succeed in their quest with their
government determined to see the black-populated Eastern Cape included in Super
rugby and established teams railing against a promotion-relegation system if
Melbourne wins out.
The high-veldt Lions and Cheetahs franchises, from Johannesburg and Bloemfontein
respectively, would be most in danger after languishing low on the table in the last
four Super 14 seasons.
