Rutherford rejects Super 12 expansion plans
February 5, 2001

New Zealand Rugby Union Chief Executive Officer David Rutherford has criticised a proposal by Australian rugby chief John O'Neill to expand the Super 12 to a Super 20.

O'Neill has been quoted in the Sydney Morning Herald as wanting a 20-team competition so that Australian rugby can compete with Australian Rules football and rugby league for lucrative television rights.

O'Neill, who is also secretary of the SANZAR group, was quoted as saying that Australia's demand for a fourth Super 12 rugby team, rejected earlier by New Zealand and South Africa, had been replaced by a desire to see a Super 20 including teams from Argentina, the United States, Canada, Japan and a combined Pacific Island team.

O'Neill also expressed a wish to see an expanded Tri-Nations series to include England and France.However, at the weekend this was rejected by England team manager Clive Woodward and Scottish and former British Lions coach Ian McGeechan.

Rutherford and other NZRFU board members are known to be keen to reject any developments likely to threaten the health of the domestic New Zealand competition, the NPC, seen as essential to the continuing health of the game in New Zealand.


"The fundamental point is that both New Zealand and South Africa are not prepared to sacrifice the NPC or the Currie Cup to advance Australia's domestic ambitions," said Rutherford earlier.

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