WorkingClassRugger
Michael Lynagh (62)
Exactly what I said, they the countries top league, but they can't survive on them alone. I don't consider Super rugby as NZ's primary structure, NPC is that!! All I simply said is NZ and Aus can't really survive without Super rugby as neither of our markets are big enough to handle it. For christ sake if markets of 56 and 65 mill need a combined comp of any sort to survive how do you think NZ and Aus will get on. Even south Africa have Currie Cup , but still got teams playing up north, and look at their population! If anyone thinks either country can survive on a 5-6 team comp they are dreaming. How many teams in these stand alone comps (which can't survive without champion's cup) is there? In France 14 teams and England have 13 teams!!! And you suggesting I trying to equate different structures!! Wales ,Scotland,Ireland have combined to have a reasonable comp, and had SA teams join. These are the facts of rugby comps! Even Japan's new comp has 12 teams!!
As I said I pretty happy with NPC (14 teams) , but I can assure everyone that you will not get a long term comp with 5-6 teams!!
All I saying is what we want and what we get is controlled by what TV wants, and that is what will get people paying , not a few of us on a rugby forum!!!
Mate, the TV deal for the Champions Cup isn't the main driver of those leagues. It's very much an added bonus.