S12 expansion gains momentum
August 5, 2001

The Australian Rugby Union will ask for tenders for a fourth Super 12 side later this month after Sanzar gives it final approval to expansion.

The tournament's organising body meets in Auckland on August 20 and from there the tender process will step up a gear with Perth and Melbourne the front-runners.

The ARU is moving forward on the expansion with a report by High Performance manager Jeff Miller saying it would be financially viable, but attention must be given to the steady stream of players heading overseas.

However, it did not recommend a home for the new side.

"The ARU Board is satisfied that we can proceed to the next step," ARU managing director John O'Neill said. "Certainly we need to act because there is a great opportunity here for Australian rugby."

The tournament is set for expansion to a Super 14 in 2003 with Australia and South Africa gaining an additional side.

In recent months, key provincial players such as Jim Williams, Shane Drahm, Nathan Spooner, Sam Payne and Stu Pinkerton confirming or set to confirm their intentions to play in Europe next season.

"The expansion of the player base (through a fourth Super 12 team) is an enormous plus for the Wallabies," O'Neill said. "But we also need to address the player drain from clubs to more lucrative opportunities overseas.

"There are too many quality players heading off shore because the present three Super 12 provinces can only contract so many players."

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