Following on from the news that Tom Banks has been offered a quite simply astronomical amount of money to go play in Japan (how can you say no to that?!) I wanted to ask a few questions of the GAGR forum to better understand the dynamics of the current Super Rugby setup. It seems to be we are steadily being blown away by the vast amounts of money offered OS, and Super Rugby is on its way to being reduced to a mickey mouse competition if things don't change. There is plenty of work Rugby Australia can do in it's own backyard, but I'd like to better grasp what Super Rugby can do to supercharge its own product and get more money coming in. Some of these may be quite obvious to many so sorry in advance!
(I'm not trolling or fishing here - I'd just like to improve my own understand of the lay of the land. So if we can avoid this devolving into a 'yeah but you guys suck' 'nah it's you guys who are shit!' discussion from the usual suspects that'd be great. I however reserve the right to say this myself at the end if I so choose).
Who runs Super Rugby Pacific? SANZAAR? Do we have an independent Super Rugby organizational body making decisions solely focused of the integrity of this competition?
Is there a salary cap for all teams? If so what is it?
Rugby Australia provides a certain amount of player top ups. Does NZ do the same? Are these top ups exempt from Super Rugby salary caps for both nations?
I read often that NZ see the ABs as the top of their pyramid cash cow (of course, huge brand and nation defining team) - does this mean a reluctance to tinker with Super Rugby as essentially their high performance development program?
Do all Aus and NZ Super teams have academies?
I'm sure I'll have more questions as the convo progresses but am happy to start there!
In answer to your question from what I know.
SANZAAR is who the Super comp is run under, not sure how it all works re Super and test rugby, but I assume Super pays more of costs?
Pretty sure there is a salary cap, but not sure what it is. Just googled and Aus salary cap is supposedly $5 mill, and can't see what NZ's is only that they can only be paid lowest $75000.00 to max $195,000 per annum. Also draft players can get $50,000.
Yep NZR and RA provide a top up for contracted players for national teams. Nothing to do with Super salary caps as it for test rugby etc. NZ players and a few Aus players also get paid for NPC rugby, and a few most Aus players are also contracted to clubs and get a bit more there (well I know they do in Qld and NSW.
AB can also get more through endorsements etc, ie Dan Carter's Jockey underwear etc etc, but most obviously not that big. I not sure what the rules are in Aus, but I would guess that they do.
All NZ super teams have academies, and would assume Aus is same, know that Reds, Tahs, Brumbies have.
wwos.nine.com.au
