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SANZAR set for expansion talks

Friday 27th June 2008

Stones: Plans to 'breathe new life' into the tournaments

The possibility of expanding the Super 14 and Tri-Nations competitions will be discussed when SANZAR meets with officials from five other national associations next month.

SANZAR, which comprises of officials from South Africa, New Zealand and Australia, is set to meet with delegates from Argentina, Canada and the United States in Wellington next week before further discussions with Japan and Fiji later in July.

Following those meetings a SANZAR committee will convene to conduct a two-day planning session.

Jonathan Stones, managing director of South Africa Rugby, is set to leave for New Zealand on Monday to begin the discussions and has expressed a desire to 'breathe new life' into the tournaments ahead of those meetings.

"SANZAR will meet representatives from Argentina, Canada and the United States in Wellington on July 2 and 3," Stones said.

"John O'Neill and Steve Tew (his counterparts in Australia and New Zealand) will meet Japanese officials in Hong Kong on July 7.

"We'll also have talks with the Fijians on July 14. SANZAR will then have a planning session on July 16 and 17.

"We're looking at ways of breathing new life into the Super 14 and Tri-Nations competitions."

The idea of expansion in the Super 14 competition is not new after O'Neill declared in March his support for a joint-venture team from Japan to be included.

Tew initially poured cold water on the idea saying SANZAR needed to also look into the possibilities presented by Argentina, United States and Pacific nations.

And with the existing broadcasting contract not up for renewal until 2010, any major changes to the tournament may be problematic.

Certainly the introduction of a Japanese team would open the Super 14 up to the Asian market, however, Stones believes that SANZAR was more likely to make cosmetic changes to the Super 14 competition in the short term.

"We could consider, for example, changing the format of the Super 14. We want to make this competition as exciting as possible," Stones said.