Melbourne pushes S12 claims
July 3, 2001

The Victorian Rugby Union can have a Super 12 side out on the field by next year if given the go-ahead by the Australian Rugby Union and SANZAR, the tournaments governing body.

SANZAR meets next week to discuss a report investigating the expansion of the Super 12 into a Super 14. And it is tipped the meeting will recommend that the tournament be expanded.

Melbourne and Perth are seen as the front-runners to host Australia's potential fourth team, with a strong bid also coming from western Sydney.

The VRU is taking the opportunity to push its claims with the Wallabies and Lions in Melbourne preparing for Saturday's Second Test at Colonial Stadium.

VRU chief executive Ron Steiner said the ARU must put any new Australian Super 12 side in Melbourne if it was serious about making the game truly national. And most importantly, Steiner believes it can assemble a strong team of Australian talent from the fringes of current Super 12 sides and those playing overseas.

"Victoria is the right place to provide the growth in participation and support Australian rugby is looking for," VRU chief executive Ron Steiner said. "We're strongly of the view that the ARU will have the foresight and strength to make the best of its strategic objective to grow the game nationally.

"If they said 2002, we think we could do it. We've spent a lot of time developing a plan to react almost immediately should we get the opportunity."

A Melbourne team is expected to play at either Colonial Stadium or Olympic Park and will have a navy and white hooped jersey.

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