Sky is the limit for SANZAR expansion
This is the view of the newly-appointed Chief Executive Andy Marinos, who addressed his media briefing this week – after his appointment was made public.
Marinos admitted the four SANZAR countries – soon to be rebranded to SANZAAR (South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina Rugby) – will continue to look at new markets and new opportunities.
One of his priorities will be to develop a strategy and strategic direction for the future of the game in the Southern Hemisphere.
While the North American and Asian markets have "enormous potential" and most likely their next targets, Marinos said they have a pretty "open piece of paper" in regards to future expansion.
SANZAR, in its original guise, looked after the professional game in South Africa, New Zealand and Australia from 1996.
By 2012 the three founder nations finally ventured into a new market by adding Argentina to their existing Tri-Nations competition and started the Rugby Championship.
Argentina has also been handed a Super Rugby franchise for next year, along with a team from Japan – their first foray into Asia and the Northern Hemisphere.
Marinos said the next two years will be spent on ensuring the new 18-team Super Rugby competition is "working, competitive and have good performances week in and week out".
"Only then will we look at whether we expand it or contract [reduce in size] it, or how do we manage it over the next five years," the new CEO said.
He made it clear that no part of the World is off-limits to future expansion.
"I think you've got to have a pretty open piece of paper," said Marinos.
"Besides the rugby strength that you've got to look at it's also got to be in good markets from a commercial point of view because, at the end of the day, you've got to generate sufficient revenue to sustain the competition so you've got to look across the board.
Asked if they would look at establishing a team in the lucrative European market he did not hesitate to answer in the affirmative.
"You've got to look at all the markets where there are opportunities."
The Pacific Island nations of Fiji, Tonga and Samoa have long been a strong feeder unions for the New Zealand and Australian franchises.
However, they may have their own team or teams in the not too distant future.
"The Pacific Islands are very much in our thinking," Marinos said.
"The over-arching consideration on any future expansion in my view is that we have to proper geographic locations that are also commercially attractive.
"The participation and inclusion of Pacific Islander players is really important, how we do that the next step and is going to need a fair bit of thought about it.
"We saw now at the World Cup – with Fiji, Samoa and Tonga – how powerful they are and what phenomenal physical attributes they have as players."
He added that a combined team could be one of their options, but culturally they would have to look at how to deal with that.
"The participation and inclusion of Pacific Islander players is really important, how we do that the next step and is going to need a fair bit of thought about it."
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