Super 14 - NZ franchises could be sold

Reuters - Sun, 08 Nov 09:46:00 2009

New Zealand's five Super rugby franchises could be sold under a plan being considered by the country's governing body.

RUGBY 2007 Super 14 Wellington Hurricanes - 0

The New Zealand Rugby Union has begun discussing the possibility of using private investors to fund the teams currently based in Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury, Otago and Waikato.

"This is the future," NZRU chief executive Steve Tew told the Sunday Star-Times.

"It's something we will work on in the coming years, because the reality is New Zealand rugby is undercapitalised."

Tew told the newspaper the plan was still in its infancy and the NZRU was adoping a cautious approach to the best way forward.

But he said the NZRU would retain a "golden share" to control some aspects of the proposed sale, including preventing owners from selling off existing parts of the teams.

"The value of New Zealand rugby is immense," he said. "At some stage we have to find a better way of cashing in on it."

Reuters

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  1. I have no idea what “timbcaycgi” has based his­ knowledge of New Zealand Rugby on. New Zealand Rugby is­ as strong as ever and turning out great talent every­ year. The New Zealand provincial competition is made up­ of local talent who play in the country, not from­ abroad. Rugby in New Zealand is about the game, this is­ what I believe Steve Tew is insinuating. To give the­ players the money they deserve selling the Super 14­ teams could be a good option in the professional era.­ NZ do lose top level players with offers of big deals­ from foreign shores but playing for the All Blacks is­ their first choice if the opportunity is there.­ International rugby has changed and with the higher­ level of players and coaching staff the game is­ starting to get to a more competitive level. I am a­ loyal All Black supporter and accept with the modern­ game it is harder to have the huge wins of old but­ there is still some good rugby being played (except­ when England are on the field). Keep it up New Zealand­ Rugby Union. PS The Haka is a form of Maori war dance­ (not Mauri) adapted for sport. If you want to face an­ authentic Haka with real spears I’m sure you’d change­ your tune.

    From kar_kiwi, on Tue 17 Nov 9:40PM

  2. new zealand rugby is in a state of steady decline not­ since the days of lomu has the all blacks scared anyone­ of the home nations with the haka which has become tame­ in comparison to that of the past. This form of mauri­ war dance was used to but fear into their opponents now­ with the home nations performing so well the haka has­ become more a circus act than war cry. Ireland showed a­ few years ago the way to dul the affect of the haka­ stand into them dont give it respect that the all­ blacks want from it. Yesterday wales gave them a good­ game in the end a single score settled it 10 years ago­ that score would be a much different tale in short the­ new zealand rugby bourd need to sort out the overseas­ players issue then sort out the all blacks money should­ not be an issuse here the world cup is 18 months away­ this is their chance to win the world cup 2 years ago­ in france should have been their time but it didn­ happen now there is no time for slip ups.

    From timbcaycgi, on Sun 8 Nov 3:19PM
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