Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
New Zealand is against Japan joining the Rugby Championship. Weeks after World Rugby Vice Chairman, Agustín Pichot requested Japan’s inclusion, New Zealand Rugby’s chief executive Steve Tew has said no.
Tew firmly believes that in order to join the Rugby Championship Japan must focus on turning the Sunwolves into a much stronger Super Rugby team. If and when this is achieved then playing in the Rugby Championship can be discussed.
The head of New Zealand rugby concedes that Japan requires regular matches against world powers, but believes the task of facing Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa in the Rugby Championship as being beyond the Brave Blossoms.
“At some stage, Japan being considered for the Rugby Championship would be on the table but, clearly, that has to come at a time when they were able to compete,” he told the New Zealand Herald.
In the final round of Super Rugby this year the Sunwolves defeated the Auckland Blues. It saw the Japanese side finishing second from bottom above Australian side, the Melbourne Rebels. Critics remain unconvinced with the Sunwolves record of 3 wins from 30 matches being considered not good enough.
The addition or not of Japan goes beyond performance. There is the value that may be added to the competition from expanding. With Japan hosting Rugby World Cup 2019 the opportunity of gaining from the Asian market is extraordinary.
The changing shape of the North vs South divide within World Rugby is an additional factor. South Africa having teams in both Super Rugby and the Guinness Pro 12 promises to further alter the existing rugby landscape.
New frontiers exist both within and from outside of the existing global order. In Europe Georgia is above Italy but is outside of the Six Nations. Romania is also within reach of Italy. Both Germany and Spain are lower down as are Russia. Yet the possibility of any joining the Pro 12 has been discussed in the past.
In SANZAAR the desire remains to focus on protecting an existing product. Tew underlined this as being the strategy: “Everyone knows the calendar is crowded; the need for money is intense and the world is a big place when you’ve got to fly folk around.”
Like Argentina experienced from 2001-2011, getting a ticket into SANZAAR is not a free ride. It took an excellent campaign at Rugby World Cup 2007 to make it possible. Before then the door was firmly shut. This was the case despite wins over England, France, Scotland and Wales in Europe by Los Pumas.
Japan has a win over South Africa at a Rugby World Cup but Tew wants more. The line of thinking is expressed further by underlining that there are others including the USA, Canada, Fiji to name a few. Where to expand to? Tew is happy with the All Blacks schedules at present.
