Call for Pacific team in expanded Super Rugby competition

[Stacey King]

ABC RADIO AUSTRALIA
Mon Mar 9, 2009 4:34pm AEDT

For years now the New Zealand All Blacks and the Australian Rugby teams have relied on the talents of Pacific islanders. This has also filtered through to the Super 14 rugby competition with Samoan, Fijians and Tongans in particular lending their talents to the different teams. Now the competition organisers are looking to expand the competition, and a strong push is coming from South Africa for another of its sides to be included, and another idea which has again surfaced is a side from the Pacific.

Presenter Michael Cavanagh
Speaker Former Samoan Coach John Boe

CAVANAGH: The Super 14 rugby competition is likely to be expanded with at least one new side to be invited to take part alongside the present teams from South Africa, New Zealand and Australia in 2011. Officials from the three unions -- are again looking at the possibility -- it coincides with the negotiations for a new broadcasting deal at a time when many sports are being hit by the financial downturn which is certain to affect broadcasters who want the best value for the money they pay out for the rights to televise games.

BOE: People are getting a little bit sick of it, you only have to look at the stands which are not as full as they were so I just think a little bit of another team, another style, different faces would give it a huge shot in the arm and the islanders is the way to go because they'd give it that. If you get an island team playing to their potential it is spectacular, you get a sponsor backing a team like that then he's going to get full use for his money I'm sure.

CAVANAGH: Former Samoan coach John Boe is one who thinks that when and if the Super 14 is expanded then it is only natural that a side from the Pacific has to be included. Mr Boe who toured France with the All Blacks in 1981, although he never played a test, was the first New Zealander to coach the Samoan national team, a position he held for several years. He has since been involved in Queensland rugby and believes that with talk of a revamped competition, now is the time to once again seriously look at a Pacific side. Organisers of the tournament are considering a number of possibilities, another South African team, one from Japan or even Argentina following its fine performance in the last Rugby World Cup. Australian Rugby Union boss John O'Neill has in the past expressed support for a Pacific side. One of the most popular is a combination of players from throughout the region to be located in either Australia or New Zealand for the competition's duration. Mr Boe who also coached a combined Pacific island team agrees there is merit in that scenario. However he also has floated the idea that each year the tournament organisers invite the winner of the Tonga, Samoa Fiji tri nations series to make up the new spot in a way that was similar to a relegation promotion scheme, the winner of the tri-nations competition would automatically be the Pacific island side for the following 12 months.

BOE: Just make an all island team from one of the systems I suggested and we are going to see a different culture a different style of play, different faces which I believe the competition needs and I think it would be great for island rugby and also for Super 14 because I think they need it...The talent is there and they can work together. You don't coach an island team like you coach an Australian or New Zealand team but certainly there is a way of doing it and I'm sure that with the right personnel and place it would be a big success.

CAVANAGH: One stumbling block is the question of sponsors. It would be difficult to find the sort of money from within the region needed to field and maintain a competitive side. Although Mr Boe believes there would be sponsors from elsewhere who would love to have their name linked to a Pacific Island side because of the huge interest they would attract. He says the naming rights would go for several years regardless of whether it be Tonga, Samoa or Fiji. But he does concede that regardless of which of the three teams, or a combined side it could not operate from one of the island states.

BOE: Oh look I think they have to be based either in Australia or New Zealand because they haven't got the facilities in the islands. Now they won't like me saying that but the fact is they haven't got the facilities for such a big type of competition. I would think that Australia with the number of big stadiums here would be ideal.

CAVANAGH: One thing that would continue under Mr Boe's plan is those Pacific islanders already playing in the Super 14 competition would remain with their present clubs, he doesn't think that the best players should be drawn into a new side as it would only undermine the current standard. He also believes that by including a totally new side -- it would stop many of the players heading to Europe for the money -- as they would be able to be closer to home in an environment that they would be more at ease with.