New Zealand in talks for historic Super Rugby proposal with Australia
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Groundbreaking.
New Zealand and Australia are reportedly discussing a radical change to Super Rugby that could allow players to move between franchises on either side of the Tasman without sacrificing their international eligibility.
Under the proposal, an All Black could potentially sign for the likes of the Waratahs, Reds, Brumbies or Western Force while remaining eligible to represent New Zealand.
Likewise, Wallabies could potentially play for one of New Zealand’s Super Rugby franchises without putting their international careers at risk.
According to The Australian, representatives from New Zealand Rugby, Rugby Australia, their respective players’ associations and the Super Rugby Pacific Commission met in Sydney last week for discussions over the future of the competition.
Opening the Trans-Tasman player market was reportedly among the subjects discussed, with stakeholders looking at ways of treating Super Rugby Pacific more as one unified competition.
Such a move would represent a significant departure from the traditional model in New Zealand, where All Blacks have generally been required to play their Super Rugby in New Zealand to remain eligible for Test selection.
The potential change could therefore create a previously unthinkable scenario where an established All Black represents an Australian franchise while continuing to play international rugby for New Zealand.
It could also help franchises distribute talent more evenly across the competition and give players another option to remain in Super Rugby rather than moving to Europe or Japan.
The discussions come amid growing concern over the financial and competitive health of Super Rugby Pacific and the increasing challenge posed by rival competitions for leading players.
There is also another significant change already coming.
New Zealand Rugby confirmed in June that Moana Pasifika will not participate in Super Rugby Pacific from 2027, meaning the competition will move to a 10-team format next season.
NZR and Rugby Australia already operate Super Rugby Pacific through a joint-venture agreement which runs until 2030, with a dedicated Super Rugby Pacific board overseeing the competition.
The latest discussions could now take that Trans-Tasman relationship considerably further by changing one of the fundamental principles governing where international players can play their club rugby.
However, no agreement has been reached.
The finer details of any new eligibility system would still need to be worked through, meaning there is currently no guarantee that the proposal will ultimately be introduced.
But should New Zealand and Australia eventually open their Super Rugby borders, it would represent one of the most significant changes to the competition’s player market in its 30-year history.
