ARU wants Pacific team in Aust

[Clayton]

Australian Rugby Union chief executive John O'Neill has called for any combined Pacific island team in an expanded Super 12 competition to be based in Australia.

O'Neill said the likelihood of a combined Pacific island team playing in the competition in 2006 was "looking better".

"We'd like to have it based in Australia," he said.

"We've put our hands up and to the best of our knowledge New Zealand's not objecting to that."

O'Neill said a combined island team would help foster rugby in the region.

The bid for a fourth Australian team in the competition was also gaining momentum in preparation for the television contract negotiations necessary before the 2006 season.

An expanded competition could see 15 teams involved.

South Africa would have an extra team, making five, New Zealand remaining at five and Australia having four plus hosting a combined Pacific island team.

O'Neill said there was a chance a combined island team could be based in south-east Queensland.

"It has to be one of the options," he said.

"We haven't obviously got that far down the track yet.

"We're working earnestly to make sure we get a fourth Australian team up and we need to decide where that fourth Australia team goes.

"But if we're lucky enough to also be able to host the combined Pacific island team, south-east Queensland is certainly not out of the question as a possible location."

O'Neill said if Australia did host a combined team the decision on where it was based would depend on what the Pacific nations wanted, funding from the International Rugby Union (IRB), an appropriate fan base and a suitable venue.


Im all for a pacific team in the comp however I believe it shouldn't be based here in Aus. Games should be hosted in Fiji, Tonga & Samoa

 

[Kurt Angle ©]

As much as this guy leaves a bad taste in my mouth, I have to give it to him, he is a guy who knows how to promote the game of RU.

There will still be big if's about the Sh*tty 12's expanding, 11 weeks + 2 weeks of finals, expansion might mean the comp splits into 2 pools.

But a pacific team would be perfect for the ARU to spread the game.

There is enough inslanders and RU fans to follow this team in Australia, and the inslands themselves won't bring in enough revenue.

But for the other 3 Oz sides, they have to stay put in Brisbane, Sydney and Canberra.

This pacific side would be perfect as a roaming side to take to other centres.

Their home games could be rotated between Melbourne, Perth, Townsville, etc.

They don't need to develop a home flavour, with the appeal being the side they play, a SA side in Perth, Auckland in Melbourne for example.

These 1-off games would be events, and raise interest in all the cities they play in.

The ARS teams could also work as a feeder side.

It could work out to be a very smart move.

 

[Iverson]

I think a pacific side should play most their games in Fiji, and a few in Samoa. It will also mean I think that they would run at a loss due to commercial reasons. So the rest of Sanzar might have to prop up the team.