States share "long-term" Super 20 vision
Brian Lowe
February 9, 2001

USA Rugby has given an in-principle thumbs up to a proposed Super 20 competition.

The sport's governing body in America was responding to a proposal put forward by Australian Rugby Union chief executive officer John O'Neill.

Under O'Neill's plan, the existing Super 12 tournament would be expanded to a 20-team competition which would include Argentina, Canada and the US, along with teams from Japan and the South Pacific.

The rationale behind the proposal is to create a truly global rugby competition, as well as to counter the popularity in Australia of rugby league and Aussie Rules football.

While giving guarded support for the proposal, USA Rugby president Anne Barry said such a plan was not likely to come to fruition any time soon.

"A Super 20 competition is an ambitious and probably long-term vision, but certainly there are American players who would benefit from the opportunity to play more high-level rugby.

"And every professional-level game played in America is also a chance to showcase the sport to a vast audience. USA Rugby's mandate is to grow the profile of the game and develop athletes, so we would look closely at any opportunities to do so."

O'Neill commented that a Super 20 would be a legitimate global competition and he added that until the US gets involved in a mainstream tournament, it will continue to meander.

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