Afrikaans Sunday newspaper Sondag reported that the decision was taken after feedback was given by SA Rugby’s acting managing director Andy Marinos, and before the Sanzar working committee arrives in South Africa this week to try and thrash out a solution to the impasse before taking the organisation’s offer to Newscorp to renew the television rights for the Super 14 and Tri Nations series.
SA Rugby have already sold the television rights for the Currie Cup from 2011 until 2015 and therefore decided that they will not accept any proposal which waters down the Currie Cup in any manner.
Australian rugby boss John O’Neill suggested this week that the Currie Cup could not stand in the way of the Sanzar competitions as it was a “second tier competition”.
The decision also means that South Africa will aggressively follow a policy to ensure the Eastern Cape franchise is the 15th team if the competition decides to expand from 2011.
According to Sondag, suggestions by Steve Tew, New Zealand CEO that a “Pacific competition” between Australia, New Zealand, the South Sea Islands and Japan be implemented and that the winner face the winner of a similar South African competition, was wholeheartedly rejected by the meeting.
The newspaper reports that South Africa’s response would be to form their own competition with Argentina, the USA and sides from Scotland and Ireland.
Sapa – Super Rugby
